Stacked stator core

ABSTRACT

A stator core comprises a stack and a resin portion. The stack comprises an annular yoke portion, a plurality of tooth portions, and a plurality of slots. The resin portion covers an inner wall surface of a slot of the plurality of slots. The resin portion protrudes outward relative to an end surface of the stack in a height direction of the stack. The resin portion is formed on at least a part of an end surface of the tooth portion so as to extend from the inner wall surface of the slot around the end surface of the tooth portion. A resin end portion of the resin portion is disposed on the end surface of the stack and a corner of the resin end portion is formed as an inclined surface including a planar surface or curved surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/535,088, filed Aug. 8, 2019, which is acontinuation application of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2018/001965 filedon Jan. 23, 2018, which claims the benefit of priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2017-024383, filed on Feb. 13, 2017, and JapanesePatent Application No. 2017-138428, filed on Jul. 14, 2017, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a stacked stator core.

BACKGROUND

In general, a stator is formed by attaching a winding coil to a toothportion of a stacked stator core. It is required to ensure insulationbetween the winding coil and the stacked stator core. For example,Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-076982 discloses amethod of manufacturing a stator, including a step of inserting a bundleof coil wire material wrapped with an insulating sheet into a slotbetween tooth portions, and a step of filling the slot with resin in astate in which the bundle of coil wire material is pressed against theslot opening. In this case, the insulating sheet is disposed between theslot and the coil wire material to ensure the insulation between them.

SUMMARY

An example stacked stator core may comprise a stack configured such thata plurality of core members are stacked, the stack comprising an annularyoke portion, a plurality of tooth portions extending from the yokeportion in an intersecting direction intersecting with the yoke portion,and a plurality of slots, each being a space formed between two of theplurality of tooth portions adjacent to each other in a circumferentialdirection of the yoke portion; and a resin portion covering an innerwall surface of a slot of the plurality of slots. The resin portion mayprotrude outward relative to an end surface of the stack in a heightdirection of the stack. Additionally, the resin portion may be formed onat least a part of an end surface of the tooth portion so as to extendfrom the inner wall surface of the slot around the end surface of thetooth portion. A resin end portion of the resin portion may be disposedon the end surface of the stack and a corner of the resin end portionmay be formed as an inclined surface including a planar surface orcurved surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example stacked statorcore.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion II in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of the vicinity of tooth portions.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line IV-IV in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example manufacturingapparatus for a stacked stator core.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a part (lowerportion) of a resin filling device.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a part (upperportion) of the resin filling device.

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a lower cull plate.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating an upper cull plate.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing a stackedstator core, specifically, a cross-sectional view illustrating a part ofthe resin filling device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing a stackedstator core, specifically, a cross-sectional view illustrating a part ofthe resin filling device and a stack.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing a stackedstator core, specifically, a cross-sectional view illustrating a part ofthe resin filling device and a stack.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the vicinity of one slot in which a mold coremember is inserted, with an upper overflow plate removed.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing a stackedstator core, specifically, a cross-sectional view illustrating the resinfilling device and a stack.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the vicinity of one slot in which a mold coremember is inserted, with an upper die removed.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing a stackedstator core, specifically, a cross-sectional view illustrating the resinfilling device and a stack.

FIG. 17 is a top view of the vicinity of one slot in which a mold coremember is inserted, in the method of manufacturing a stacked stator coreaccording to another example.

FIG. 18 is a top view of the vicinity of one slot in which a mold coremember is inserted, in another example method of manufacturing a stackedstator core.

FIG. 19 is a top view of the vicinity of one slot in which a mold coremember is inserted, in another example method of manufacturing a stackedstator core.

FIG. 20 is a top view of the vicinity of one slot in which a mold coremember is inserted, in another example method of manufacturing a stackedstator core.

FIG. 21A is a top view of the vicinity of one slot in which a mold coremember is inserted, in another example method of manufacturing a stackedstator core.

FIG. 21B is a top view of the vicinity of one slot in which a mold coremember is inserted, in another example method of manufacturing a stackedstator core.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the tooth portion cut in the samemanner as in FIG. 4 , in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 23A is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of an upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 23B is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of an upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 23C is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of an upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 24 is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of toothportions, in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 25 is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of toothportions, in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 26 is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of toothportions, in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 27 is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of toothportions, in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 28A is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of toothportions, in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 28B is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of toothportions, in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 29 is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of toothportions, in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 30 is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of toothportions, in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 31 is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of toothportions, in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 32 is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of toothportions, in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 33 is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of toothportions, in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view along line XXXIV-XXXIV in FIG. 33 .

FIG. 35A is a perspective view illustrating the vicinity of an upper endof the mold core member used in another example method of manufacturinga stacked stator core.

FIG. 35B is a perspective view illustrating the vicinity of an upper endof the mold core member used in another example method of manufacturinga stacked stator core.

FIG. 36 is a top view for explaining a positioning plate used in anotherexample method of manufacturing a stacked stator core.

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining another example method ofmanufacturing a stacked stator core, specifically, a partially enlargedperspective view of the vicinity of tooth portions.

FIG. 38 is a diagram for explaining another example method ofmanufacturing a stacked stator core, specifically, a partially enlargedperspective view of the vicinity of tooth portions.

FIG. 39 is a diagram for explaining insulation testing using mold coremembers, specifically, a partially enlarged perspective view of thevicinity of tooth portions.

FIG. 40 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a state inwhich mold core members are inserted in slots, in another example methodof manufacturing a stacked stator core.

FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view along line XLI-XLI in FIG. 40 .

FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view of the tooth portion cut in the samemanner as in FIG. 41 , in another example method of manufacturing astacked stator core.

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view of the tooth portion cut in the samemanner as in FIG. 41 , in another example method of manufacturing astacked stator core e.

FIG. 44 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a state inwhich mold core members are inserted in slots, in another example methodof manufacturing a stacked stator core.

FIG. 45 is an exploded perspective view of a mold core member of in

FIG. 44 .

FIG. 46 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a state inwhich mold core members are inserted in slots, in another example methodof manufacturing a stacked stator core.

FIG. 47 is an exploded perspective view of a mold core member of FIG. 46.

FIG. 48 is a cross-sectional view of the tooth portion cut in the samemanner as in FIG. 41 , in another example method of manufacturing astacked stator core.

FIG. 49 is a perspective view illustrating the vicinity of the upper endof the mold core member used in another example method of manufacturinga stacked stator core.

FIG. 50 is a perspective view illustrating another example stackedstator core.

FIG. 51 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a cross-sectional viewillustrating the resin filling device and a stack.

FIG. 52 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a cross-sectional viewillustrating the resin filling device and a stack.

FIG. 53 is a cross-sectional view of the tooth portion cut in the samemanner as in FIG. 4 , in another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 54 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a cross-sectional viewpartially illustrating the resin filling device and a stack.

FIG. 55 is a diagram for explaining the step subsequent to FIG. 54 ,specifically, a cross-sectional view partially illustrating the resinfilling device and a stack.

FIG. 56 is a diagram for explaining the step subsequent to FIG. 55 ,specifically, a cross-sectional view partially illustrating the resinfilling device and a stack.

FIG. 57 is a diagram for explaining the step subsequent to FIG. 56 ,specifically, a cross-sectional view partially illustrating the resinfilling device and a stack.

FIG. 58A is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 58B is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 59 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 60A is a top view illustrating a stacked state of a blanked memberat an outermost layer of a stack and a blanked member at a layer otherthan the outermost layer of the stack.

FIG. 60B is a top view illustrating a stacked state of a blanked memberat an outermost layer of a stack and a blanked member at a layer otherthan the outermost layer of the stack.

FIG. 61A is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 61B is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 62 is a perspective view of another example resin filling device asviewed from above.

FIG. 63 is a perspective view of another example resin filling device asviewed from below.

FIG. 64 is a perspective view illustrating a transportation member.

FIG. 65 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing a stackedstator core using another example resin filling device.

FIG. 66 is a diagram for explaining the step subsequent to FIG. 65 .

FIG. 67 is a diagram for explaining the step subsequent to FIG. 66 .

FIG. 68 is a perspective view illustrating another exampletransportation member and another example lower die.

FIG. 69 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 70A is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of the toothportion in a blanked member forming another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 70B is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of the toothportion in a blanked member forming another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 71A is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 71B is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 72A is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 72B is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper endsurface of the tooth portion cut in the same manner as in FIG. 4 , inanother example stacked stator core.

FIG. 73 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a cross-sectional viewpartially illustrating the resin filling device and a stack.

FIG. 74 is a diagram for explaining the step subsequent to FIG. 73 ,specifically, a cross-sectional view partially illustrating the resinfilling device and a stack.

FIG. 75 is a diagram for explaining the step subsequent to FIG. 74 ,specifically, a cross-sectional view partially illustrating the resinfilling device and a stack.

FIG. 76 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a perspective viewillustrating the resin filling device and a stack.

FIG. 77 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a cross-sectional viewillustrating the resin filling device and a stack.

FIG. 78 is a diagram for explaining the step subsequent to FIG. 77 ,specifically, a cross-sectional view partially illustrating the resinfilling device and a stack.

FIG. 79 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a cross-sectional viewillustrating the resin filling device and a stack.

FIG. 80 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a cross-sectional viewillustrating the resin filling device and a stack.

FIG. 81A is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a top view of the vicinity ofone slot in which a mold core member is inserted, with the upperoverflow plate removed.

FIG. 81B is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a top view of the vicinity ofone slot in which a mold core member is inserted, with the upperoverflow plate removed.

FIG. 82A is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a top view of the vicinity ofone slot in which a mold core member is inserted, with the upperoverflow plate removed.

FIG. 82B is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a top view of the vicinity ofone slot in which a mold core member is inserted, with the upperoverflow plate removed.

FIG. 83A is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a top view for explaining astate in which openings are closed by a closing member.

FIG. 83B is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a top view for explaining astate in which openings are closed by a closing member.

FIG. 84 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a cross-sectional viewpartially illustrating the resin filling device and a stack.

FIG. 85 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the vicinity oftooth portions of another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 86 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a top view of the vicinity ofone slot in which a mold core member is inserted, with the upperoverflow plate removed.

FIG. 87 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a cross-sectional viewpartially illustrating the resin filling device and a stack.

FIG. 88 is a perspective view illustrating another example mold coremember.

FIG. 89 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the vicinity oftooth portions of another example stacked stator core.

FIG. 90 is a partially enlarged top view of the vicinity of toothportions of FIG. 89 .

FIG. 91 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a top view illustrating astate in which openings are closed by a closing member.

FIG. 92 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a top view illustrating astate in which openings are closed by a closing member.

FIG. 93 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a top view illustrating astate in which openings are closed by a closing member.

FIG. 94 is a diagram for explaining a process of manufacturing anotherexample stacked stator core, specifically, a top view illustrating astate in which openings are closed by a closing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, with reference to the drawings, the samereference numbers are assigned to the same components or to similarcomponents having the same function, and overlapping description isomitted.

Structure of Stacked Stator Core

Referring first to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 , a configuration of a stackedstator core 1 is described. The stacked stator core 1 is a part of astator. The stator has a winding coil attached to the stacked statorcore 1. The stator is combined with a rotor to form a motor.

The stacked stator core 1 includes a stack 2 and a plurality of resinportions 3. The stack 2 has a cylindrical shape. More specifically, athrough hole 2 a extending along the center axis Ax is provided at thecenter of the stack 2. A rotor can be disposed in the through hole 2 a.

The stack 2 includes a yoke portion 4 and a plurality of tooth portions5. The yoke portion 4 has an annular shape and extends so as to surroundthe center axis Ax. The width in the radial direction of the yokeportion 4 (hereinafter simply referred to as “radial direction”), theinner diameter, the outer diameter, and the thickness can be set to avariety of values according to the purpose and performance of the motor.

A plurality of depressed grooves 6 (six odd-shape portions in FIG. 1 )are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the stack 2 (yokeportion 4). A pair of depressed grooves 6A and four depressed grooves 6Bare provided in the stack 2. The depressed groove 6 is depressed towardthe center axis Ax. The depressed groove 6 extends linearly from one endsurface to the other end surface of the stack 2 in the stackingdirection of the stack 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as “stackingdirection”). A pair of depressed grooves 6A face each other with respectto the center axis Ax. The four depressed grooves 6B are arranged atsubstantially regular intervals in the circumferential direction of theyoke portion 4 (hereinafter simply referred to as “circumferentialdirection”).

A plurality of lug parts (not illustrated) protruding radially outwardmay be provided integrally on the outer peripheral surface of the yokeportion 4. The lug part may have a through hole passing through the lugpart in the stacking direction of the stack 2. The through holefunctions as, for example, an insertion hole for a bolt for fixing thestacked stator core 1 to the housing (not illustrated) of a motor. Thenumber of lug parts (the number of through holes) can be set asappropriate according to the kind of the stacked stator core 1.

Each tooth portion 5 extends along the radial direction (the directioncrossing the yoke portion 4) so as to extend from the inner edge of theyoke portion 4 toward the center axis Ax. That is, each tooth portion 5protrudes from the inner edge of the yoke portion 4 toward the centeraxis Ax. In the stack 2, 48 tooth portions 5 are formed integrally withthe yoke portion 4. The tooth portions 5 are arranged at substantiallyregular intervals in the circumferential direction. A slot 7 which is aspace for disposing a winding coil (not illustrated) is defined betweenthe adjacent tooth portions 5.

As illustrated in detail in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , each tooth portion 5includes a base end portion 5 a and an open end portion 5 b. The baseend portion 5 a extends from the yoke portion 4 and has a rectangularshape as viewed from above. The open end portion 5 b is provided at anend portion on the center axis Ax side relative to the base end portion5 a. The open end portion 5 b is also a tip end portion of the toothportion 5 on the center axis Ax side. The open end portion 5 b is spacedapart from another open end portion 5 b adjacent in the circumferentialdirection. In this configuration, a slit-like opening (slot opening) 8extending in the stacking direction is defined between the open endportions 5 b adjacent in the circumferential direction. The slot 7 iscommunicatively connected with the opening 8.

The open end portion 5 b protrudes relative to the base end portion 5 ain the circumferential direction. More specifically, the open endportion 5 b is wider than the base end portion 5 a and has a pair ofprotrusions 5 c positioned to the outside of the base end portion 5 a inthe circumferential direction. The protrusion 5 c has a trapezoidalshape. An inner wall surface F1 of the protrusion 5 c comes closer toanother tooth portion 5 adjacent in the circumferential direction,toward the opening 8 along the radial direction. That is, the inner wallsurface F1 of the protrusion 5 c is inclined relative to the extendingdirection (radial direction) of the tooth portion 5. In other words, theopen end portion 5 b has the inner wall surface F1 (first inclinedsurface) that is an inclined surface inclined relative to the extendingdirection of the tooth portion 5.

The stack 2 is configured such that a plurality of blanked members W(core members) are stacked. The blanked member W is a plate-shaped partformed by blanking an electrical steel sheet ES (metal plate; workpieceplate) described later into a predetermined shape and has a shapecorresponding to the stack 2. The stack 2 may be configured byrotational stacking. “Rotational stacking” refers to stacking theplurality of blanked members W while shifting the angles of the blankedmembers W relative to each other. The rotational stacking is performedmainly for cancelling out the plate thickness deviations of the stack 2.The angle of the rotational stacking may be set to a desired value.

The resin portions 3 are each provided in the corresponding slots 7.Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 , the resin portion 3has a main portion 3 a and an end portion 3 b. The main portion 3 a isdisposed so as to cover an inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 insidethe open end portion 5 b (the yoke portion 4 side). That is, the mainportion 3 a (resin portion 3) does not cover the inner wall surface ofthe open end portion 5 b and does not close the open end portion 5 b orthe opening 8. The main portion 3 a (resin portion) does not cover theinner peripheral surface of the stack 2 (tooth portion 5), either. Thethickness of the main portion 3 a may be set as appropriate based on thepermittivity of the resin portion 3 and the use voltage of the motorincluding the stacked stator core 1. The thickness of the main portion 3a may be, for example, smaller than the amount of protrusion of theprotrusion 5 c and may be approximately 0.2 mm. In this case, the mainportion 3 a does not protrude relative to the open end portion 5 b(protrusion 5 c) in the circumferential direction.

The end portion 3 b is provided integrally with each of the upper endand the lower end of the main portion 3 a in the stacking direction andextends from the inner wall surface F2 around the end surface of thestack 2 (the end surface F3 of the yoke portion 4 and the end surface F4of the tooth portion 5). The end portion 3 b includes a linear surfaceSF extending along the end surfaces F3 and F4, and protrudes outwardrelative to the end surfaces F3 and F4 in the stacking direction andpartially covers the end surfaces F3 and F4. In this case, each of theend surfaces F3 and F4 has a covered region R1 covered with the resinportion 3 and a non-covered region R2 not covered with the resin portion3 (see FIG. 4 ). In some examples, the non-covered region R2 in the endsurface F4 (tooth portion 5) extends linearly along the extendingdirection of the tooth portion 5 (the radial direction of the stack 2).In this configuration, the end portions 3 b of the resin portions 3adjacent in the circumferential direction are not connected to eachother in the tooth portion 5.

In some examples, the corner of the resin portion 3 is beveled. In thisconfiguration, the corner of the resin portion 3 that extends from theinner wall surface F2 around the end surfaces F3 and F4 is also beveled.The shape of the bevel may be rounded or chamfered or may be any othershapes such as a trapezoidal shape and a step shape as long as thecorner is cut off. Alternatively, the main portion 3 a or the endportion 3 b of the resin portion 3 may be projecting or depressed suchthat protrusions and depressions are alternately arranged in theextending direction of the tooth portion so as to conform to the shapeof the winding coil attached to the tooth portion 5.

Apparatus for Manufacturing Stacked Stator Core

Referring now to FIG. 5 , a manufacturing apparatus 100 for the stackedstator core 1 is described.

The manufacturing apparatus 100 is an apparatus for manufacturing thestacked stator core 1 from an electrical steel sheet ES which is astrip-like metal plate. The manufacturing apparatus 100 includes anuncoiler 110, a feeding device 120, a blanking device 130, a resinfilling device 200, and a controller 140 (control unit).

The uncoiler 110 rotatably holds a coil material 111 with the coilmaterial 111 attached thereto. The coil material 111 is a strip-likeelectrical steel sheet ES wound into a coil shape. The feeding device120 has a pair of rollers 121 and 122 sandwiching the electrical steelsheet ES from above and below. A pair of rollers 121 and 122 rotate andstop based on an instruction signal from the controller 140 andsequentially feed the electrical steel sheet ES intermittently in onedirection toward the blanking device 130.

The length of the electrical steel sheet ES that forms the coil material111 may be, for example, approximately 500 in to 10000 in. The thicknessof the electrical steel sheet ES may be, for example, approximately 0.1mm to 0.5 mm. The thickness of the electrical steel sheet ES may be, forexample, approximately 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm in terms of obtaining thestacked stator core 1 having more excellent magnetic characteristics.The width of the electrical steel sheet ES may be, for example,approximately 50 mm to 500 mm.

The blanking device 130 operates based on an instruction signal from thecontroller 140. The blanking device 130 has the function of sequentiallyblanking the electrical steel sheet ES intermittently fed by the feedingdevice 120 to form a blanked member W and the function of sequentiallystacking the blanked members W obtained by blanking to produce a stack2.

The stack 2 is ejected from the blanking device 130 and then placed ontoa conveyor Cv extending between the blanking device 130 and the resinfilling device 200. The conveyor Cv operates based on an instructionfrom the controller 140 and feeds the stack 2 to the resin fillingdevice 200. The stack 2 may be conveyed by anything other than theconveyor Cv between the blanking device 130 and the resin filling device200. For example, the stack 2 may be placed in a container and conveyedmanually.

The resin filling device 200 has the function of charging melted resininto a filling space V1 (described later) to connect the blanked membersW to each other to form a stack 2. The details of the resin fillingdevice 200 will be described later.

The controller 140, for example, generates an instruction signal foroperating each of the feeding device 120 and the blanking device 130,for example, based on a program stored in a recording medium (notillustrated) or an operation input from an operator, and transmits theinstruction signal to the feeding device 120 and the blanking device130.

Resin Filling Device

Referring now to FIG. 6 to FIG. 9 , a configuration of the resin fillingdevice 200 is described. The resin filling device 200 includes a lowerdie 210 (holding plate), a plurality of guide shafts 220, a plurality ofpositioning blocks 230A (positioning member), a plurality of positioningpins 230B (positioning member), a pair of overflow plates 240 (holdingplate), a diameter increaser 250, a plurality of mold core members 260,a lower cull plate 270 (holding plate), an upper cull plate 280 (holdingplate), and an upper die 290.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the lower die 210 is a plate-shaped memberhaving a rectangular shape. The lower die 210 is configured to hold thestack 2 placed thereon. The lower die 210 has a plurality of insertionholes 211, a plurality of insertion holes 212, a plurality of insertionholes 213, a plurality of insertion holes 214, and a plurality of guiderails 215.

In some examples, four insertion holes 211 are provided in the lower die210. One insertion hole 211 is positioned at each of four corners of thelower die 210. The insertion hole 211 has a shape corresponding to theouter shape of the guide shaft 220. In some examples, the insertion hole211 has a circular shape.

In some examples, two insertion holes 212 are provided in the lower die210. The insertion holes 212 are positioned in the vicinity of a pair ofouter edges of the lower die 210 and face each other with respect to thecenter of the lower die 210. The insertion hole 212 has a shapecorresponding to the positioning block 230A. In some examples, theinsertion hole 212 has a substantially rectangular shape.

In some examples, four insertion holes 213 are provided in the lower die210. One insertion hole 213 is positioned at each of four corners of thelower die 210 inside the insertion holes 211. The insertion holes 213has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the positioning pin230B. In some examples, the insertion hole 213 has a circular shape.

In some examples, 48 insertion holes 214 are provided in the lower die210. A plurality of insertion holes 214 are arranged substantially atregular intervals in a circular shape inside the insertion holes 211 to213. The insertion holes 214 are disposed at positions correspondingone-to-one to the slots 7 of the stack 2 placed on the lower die 210.The insertion hole 214 has a shape corresponding to the shape of themold core member 260 and has a size equivalent to the size of the moldcore member 260. In some examples, the insertion hole 214 has asubstantially trapezoidal shape. The insertion holes 214 extend radiallyoutward from the center of the lower die 210. The short side of a pairof bases of the insertion hole 214 is positioned closer to the center ofthe lower die 210. The long side of a pair of bases of the insertionhole 214 is positioned closer to the outer edge of the lower die 210.

In some examples, four guide rails 215 are provided so as to protrudeupward from a surface of the lower die 210. The plurality of guide rails215 are arranged substantially at regular intervals in a circular shapeinside the insertion holes 214. The guide rails 215 extend radiallyoutward from the center of the lower die 210.

Each guide shaft 220 is secured in the corresponding insertion hole 211.That is, in some examples, the resin filling device 200 has four guideshafts 220 as many as the insertion holes 211. The guide shaft 220 has acylindrical shape. A not-illustrated retainer (for example, ballretainer) is attached in the vicinity of the upper end of each guideshaft 220. The retainer is biased upward by a not-illustrated elasticmember (for example, compression coil spring).

Each positioning block 230A is secured in the corresponding insertionhole 212. That is, in some examples, the resin filling device 200 hastwo positioning blocks 230A as many as the insertion holes 211. Thepositioning block 230A has a substantially rectangular parallelepipedshape. A ridge 231 extending linearly in the top-bottom direction isprovided on one side surface of the positioning block 230A. Thepositioning block 230A is disposed in the insertion hole 212 such thatthe ridge 231 faces toward the center of the lower die 210.

Each positioning pin 230B is secured in the corresponding insertion hole213. That is, in some examples, the resin filling device 200 has fourpositioning pins 230B as many as the insertion holes 213. Thepositioning pin 230B has a cylindrical shape.

The overflow plate 240 (hereinafter simply referred to as “plate 240”)is a thin plate having an annular shape. The plate 240 has one throughhole 240 a, a plurality of through holes 242, a plurality of throughholes 243, and a plurality of through holes 244. The through hole 240 ahas a circular shape and is positioned at the center of the plate 240.The through hole 240 a may be equivalent to the inner diameter of thestack 2 or may be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the stack2.

In some examples, two through holes 242 are provided in the plate 240.The through holes 242 are each positioned in the vicinity of the outerperipheral edge of the plate 240 and face each other with the throughhole 240 a interposed therebetween. The through hole 242 has a shapecorresponding to the positioning block 230A. In some examples, thethrough hole 242 has a substantially rectangular shape.

In some examples, four through holes 243 are provided in the plate 240.The through holes 243 are arranged substantially at regular intervals ina circular shape along the outer peripheral edge of the plate 240. Thethrough hole 243 has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of thepositioning pin 230B. In some examples, the through hole 243 has acircular shape.

In some examples, 48 through holes 244 are provided in the plate 240.The plurality of through holes 244 are arranged substantially at regularintervals in a circular shape so as to surround the through hole 240 a,inside the through holes 242 and 243. The through holes 244 are disposedat positions corresponding one-to-one to the slots 7 of the stack 2placed on the lower die 210. The through hole 244 has a shapecorresponding to the mold core member 260 and is slightly larger thanthe mold core member 260. In some examples, the through hole 244 has asubstantially trapezoidal shape. The through holes 244 extend radiallyoutward from the through hole 240 a. The short side of a pair of basesof the through hole 244 is positioned closer to the through hole 240 a.The long side of a pair of bases of the through hole 244 is positionedcloser to the outer peripheral edge of the plate 240.

The diameter increaser 250 includes a plurality of diameter-increasingmember 251 and a plunger member 252. The diameter-increasing member 251has a sector shape as viewed from above. The diameter-increasing member251 can be obtained, for example, by dividing an annular column-shapedbody into multiple pieces. The upper surface and the lower surface ofthe diameter-increasing member 251 are each configured with anarc-shaped outer peripheral edge, an arc-shaped inner peripheral edgehaving a length shorter than the outer peripheral edge, a linear sideedge connecting one end of the outer peripheral edge with one end of theinner peripheral edge, and a liner side edge connecting the other end ofthe outer peripheral edge with the other end of the inner peripheraledge. An inner peripheral surface 253 of the diameter-increasing member251 has an inclined surface coining closer to the inside toward thelower side.

A depressed groove 254 is provided on the lower surface of thediameter-increasing member 251 (for example, see FIG. 10 ). Thedepressed groove 254 has the shape of an elongated hole extendingbetween the inner peripheral surface 253 and the outer peripheralsurface of the diameter-increasing member 251. The corresponding guiderail 215 can be inserted into the depressed groove 254. The length ofthe depressed groove 254 is longer than the length of the guide rail215. With this configuration, the diameter-increasing member 251 ismovable in the extending direction of the guide rail 215.

The plunger member 252 is disposed within the inner peripheral surface253 of the diameter-increasing member 251. The plunger member 252 hasthe shape of a truncated cone with the diameter decreasing toward thetip end (lower end). In this configuration, the outer peripheral surfaceof the plunger member 252 is shaped like a conical surface and has ashape corresponding to the inner peripheral surface 253 of thediameter-increasing member 251.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the mold core member 260 has a rectangularprism shape having a substantially trapezoidal bottom surface. In someexamples, the resin filling device 200 includes 48 mold core members 260as many as the insertion holes 214 and the through holes 244, 274, 284.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , the lower cull plate 270(hereinafter simply referred to as “plate 270”) is a plate-shaped memberhaving a rectangular shape. The plate 270 has one through hole 270 a, aplurality of through holes 271, a plurality of through holes 272, aplurality of through holes 273, a plurality of through holes 274, and aplurality of through holes 275. The through hole 270 a has a circularshape and is positioned at the center of the plate 270. The through hole270 a may be equivalent to the inner diameter of the stack 2 or may beslightly larger than the inner diameter of the stack 2.

In some examples, four through holes 271 are provided in the plate 270.One through hole 271 is positioned at each of four corners of the plate270. A retainer positioned in the vicinity of the upper end of the guideshaft 220 is inserted into each through hole 271. With thisconfiguration, the plate 270 can slide through the guide shafts 220 inthe extending direction thereof (top-bottom direction). In someexamples, the through hole 271 has a circular shape.

In some examples, two through holes 272 are provided in the plate 270.The through holes 272 are provided in the vicinity of a pair of outeredges of the plate 270 and face each other with the through hole 270 ainterposed therebetween. The through hole 272 has a shape correspondingto the positioning block 230A. In some examples, the through hole 272has a substantially rectangular shape.

In some examples, four through holes 273 are provided in the plate 270.One through hole 273 is positioned at each of four corners of the plate270, inside the through holes 271. The through hole 273 has a shapecorresponding to the outer shape of the positioning pin 230B. In someexamples, the through hole 273 has a circular shape.

In some examples, 48 through holes 274 are provided in the plate 270.The plurality of through holes 274 are arranged substantially at regularintervals in a circular shape so as to surround the through hole 270 a,inside the through holes 271 to 273. The through holes 274 are disposedat positions corresponding one-to-one to the slots 7 of the stack 2placed on the lower die 210. The through hole 274 has a shape equivalentto the insertion hole 214.

In some examples, as illustrated in FIG. 8 , three through holes 275 aredisposed around one through hole 274. Specifically, one through hole 275is disposed adjacent to the long side of a pair of bases of the throughhole 274. One through hole 275 is disposed adjacent to each of a pair oflateral sides of the through hole 274.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 , the upper cull plate 280(hereinafter simply referred to as “plate 280”) is a plate-shaped memberhaving an annular shape. The plate 280 has one through hole 280 a, aplurality of through holes 284, a plurality of through holes 285, and aplurality of depressed grooves 286. The through hole 280 a has acircular shape and is positioned at the center of the plate 280. Thethrough hole 280 a may be equivalent to the inner diameter of the stack2 or may be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the stack 2.

In some examples, 48 through holes 284 are provided in the plate 280.The plurality of through holes 284 are arranged substantially at regularintervals in a circular shape so as to surround the through hole 280 a.The through holes 284 are disposed at positions corresponding one-to-oneto the slots 7 of the stack 2 placed on the lower die 210. The throughhole 284 has a shape equivalent to the insertion hole 214 and thethrough hole 274.

In some examples, as illustrated in FIG. 9 , three through holes 285 aredisposed around one through hole 284. Specifically, one through hole 285is disposed adjacent to the long side of a pair of bases of the throughhole 284. One through hole 285 is disposed adjacent to each of a pair oflateral sides of the through hole 284.

In some examples, 12 depressed grooves 286 are provided on a surface ofthe plate 280. The plurality of depressed grooves 286 are arranged in acircular shape so as to surround the through holes 284. One depressedgroove 286 has a comb-like shape and surrounds four through holes 284from the outer peripheral edge side of the plate 280. Specifically, thedepressed groove 286 includes one main portion 286 a and a plurality ofbranch portions 286 b. The main portion 286 a extends along the outerperipheral edge of the plate 280 between the outer peripheral edge ofthe plate 280 and the through holes 284. The plurality of branchportions 286 b branch off from the main portion 286 a and extend towardthe through hole 280 a. The tip end portions of the branch portions 286b are connected to the through holes 285 disposed around four throughholes 284 surrounded by one depressed groove 286.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the upper die 290 is a plate-shaped memberhaving a rectangular shape. The plate 290 has a plurality of insertionholes 291 (see FIG. 14 ) and a plurality of through holes 292. In someexamples, four insertion holes 291 are provided on the underside of theupper die 290. One insertion hole 291 is positioned at each of fourcorners of the upper die 290. The insertion hole 291 has a shapecorresponding to the outer shape of the guide shaft 220. In someexamples, the insertion hole 291 has a circular shape. In some examples,as illustrated in FIG. 9 , the through holes 292 are disposed atpositions corresponding one-to-one to the main portions 286 a of thedepressed grooves 286 of the plate 280.

Method of Manufacturing Stacked Stator Core

Referring now to FIG. 10 to FIG. 16 , a method of manufacturing thestacked stator core 1 is described. First of all, a stack 2 is formed(first step). Specifically, the feeding device 120 feeds an electricalsteel sheet ES to the blanking device 130 based on an instruction fromthe controller 140, and the blanking device 130 blanks a portion to beworked of the electrical steel sheet ES into a predetermined shape. Ablanked member W is thus formed. This blanking process is repeated,whereby a predetermined number of blanked members W are stacked to formone stack 2.

When a blanked member W is formed, a region corresponding to the slots 7of the stack 2 and a region corresponding to the positioning parts ofthe stack 2 (for example, the depressed grooves 6 and the bolt holes)may be simultaneously blanked from the electrical steel sheet ES. Inthis case, displacement of the relative position between the positioningparts and the slots 7 of the stack 2 can be reduced.

Subsequently, the conveyor Cv conveys the stack 2 ejected from theblanking device 130 to the resin filling device 200, based on aninstruction from the controller 140. In the resin filling device 200,preparation for placing the stack 2 on the lower die 210 is performedbefore the stack 2 arrives. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 10 ,one guide shaft 220 is attached to each insertion hole 211, onepositioning block 230A is attached to each insertion hole 212, and onepositioning pin 230B is attached to each insertion hole 213. Thediameter increaser 250 is placed on the lower die 210 such that theguide rails 215 are inserted into the depressed grooves 254 of thediameter-increasing members 251. At this moment, the plunger member 252is positioned on the relatively upper side of the inner peripheralsurfaces 253. The diameter-increasing members 251 therefore are closerto the center of the lower die 210 as a whole.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 11 , the plate 240 is placed on the lowerdie 210. Specifically, the plate 240 is lowered toward the lower die 210such that the diameter increaser 250 is inserted into the through hole240 a, one positioning block 230A is inserted into each through hole242, and one positioning pin 230B is inserted into each through hole243. At this moment, one through hole 244 of the plate 240 overlaps eachinsertion hole 214. As viewed from above, a portion on the short side ofa pair of bases of the through hole 244 overlaps a portion on the shortside of a pair of bases of the insertion hole 214. Since the throughhole 244 is slightly larger than the insertion hole 214, as viewed fromabove, a portion outside the short side of the through hole 244 ispositioned on the outside of a portion outside the short side of theinsertion hole 214.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 11 , the stack 2 is placed on the preparedlower die 210. Specifically, the stack 2 is lowered toward the lower die210 and the plate 240 such that the diameter increaser 250 is insertedinto the through hole 2 a of the stack 2, one ridge 231 of thepositioning blocks 230A is engaged in each depressed groove 6A, and theouter peripheral surface of one positioning pin 230B is engaged in eachdepressed groove 6B. In some examples, each positioning pin 230B ispositioned to face the diameter-increasing member 251 in the radialdirection. At this moment, each slot 7 of the stack 2 overlaps onethrough hole 244. The diameter-increasing members 251 are positioned onthe inside of the yoke portion 4 and the tooth portions 5 so as to bealigned in the circumferential direction within the through hole 2 a(sixth step). Furthermore, the positioning of the stack 2 on the lowerdie 210 is performed by the ridges 231 of the positioning blocks 230Aand the outer peripheral surfaces of the positioning pins 230B (eighthstep).

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 11 , the plate 240 is placed on the stack2. The stack 2 is thus sandwiched between a pair of plates 240, and eachend surface of the stack 2 is covered with a region excluding thethrough holes 244 of the plate 240 (fourth step).

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 12 , one mold core member 260 is insertedinto each slot 7 (second step). At this moment, one mold core member 260is disposed in the insertion hole 214, the through hole 244, and theslot 7 communicatively connected in the stacking direction.Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 13 , the body 260 a of the moldcore member 260 extends along the extending direction of the slot 7 (theradial direction of the stack 2) and is spaced apart from the inner wallsurface F2 of the slot 7. The closing portion 260 b of the mold coremember 260 is connected integrally with the body 260 a on the opening 8side and closes the open end portion 5 b. In this configuration, afilling space V1 is formed between the body 260 a and the slot 7 to thebody 260 a side of the closing portion 260 b.

In some examples, the closing portion 260 b has a trapezoidal shape andbecomes narrower toward the opening 8. That is, a pair of outsidesurfaces F5 of the closing portion 260 b are inclined relative to theextending direction of the mold core member 260 (the radial direction ofthe stack 2). In other words, the closing portion 260 b has the outsidesurface F5 (second inclined surface) which is an inclined surfaceinclined relative to the extending direction of the mold core member260. The outside surface F5 of the closing portion 260 b and the innerwall surface F2 of the open end portion 5 b abut on each other. The moldcore member 260 (closing portion 260 b) does not exist between theprotrusions 5 c. In this configuration, the closing portion 260 b abutson the inner wall surface of the slot 7 in a region of the slot 7 insidethe opening 8.

Returning to FIG. 12 , the filling space V1 is communicatively connectedwith the through holes 244 of the plates 240 at the top and the bottom.That is, the space surrounded by the through hole 244 and the mold coremember 260 functions as an auxiliary space V2 communicatively connectedwith the filling space V1. In some examples, the auxiliary space V2faces the filling space V1 and continuously expands from the fillingspace V1 so as to partially face the end surface F3 of the yoke portion4 and the end surface F4 of the tooth portion 5 (see FIG. 15 ). In otherwords, a region of the plate 240 other than the through hole 244 abutson the end surfaces F3 and F4 of the stack 2.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 12 , the plunger member 252 of the diameterincreaser 250 is pushed downward. The plunger member 252 is thus pressedagainst the diameter-increasing members 251 while the peripheral surface(conical surface) of the plunger member 252 is kept in abutment with theinner peripheral surfaces 253 of the diameter-increasing members 251. Inthis configuration, the peripheral surface (conical surface) of theplunger member 252 applies outward force to the inner peripheralsurfaces 253 while sliding on the inner peripheral surfaces 253. Eachdiameter-increasing member 251 therefore moves outward in the radialdirection of the stack 2 while being guided by the guide rail 215. Theouter peripheral surfaces of the diameter-increasing members 251 abut onthe inner peripheral surfaces of the through holes 2 a and 240 a andapply radially outward force to these surfaces (seventh step). Here, thestack 2 is positioned by the positioning blocks 230A and the positioningpins 230B on the outer peripheral surface side thereof. In thisconfiguration, when the diameter-increasing members 251 apply theradially outward force, the stack 2 is sandwiched between thediameter-increasing members 251 and the positioning blocks 230A as wellas the positioning pins 230B in the radial direction.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 14 , the plate 270 is placed on the stack 2and the plate 240. Specifically, the plate 270 is lowered toward thestack 2 and the plate 240 such that the diameter increaser 250 isinserted into the through hole 270 a of the plate 270, one guide shaft220 is inserted into each through hole 271, one positioning block 230Ais inserted into each through hole 272, one positioning pin 230B isinserted into each through hole 273, and one mold core member 260 isinserted into each through hole 274. At this moment, as illustrated inFIG. 15 , three through holes 275 surround one through hole 244, andthese through holes 275 partially overlap the through hole 244 as viewedfrom above. That is, the through holes 275 are communicatively connectedwith the corresponding through hole 244.

Thus, the auxiliary space V2 positioned on the lower side of the stack 2is covered with the lower die 210, and the auxiliary space V2 positionedon the upper side of the stack 2 is covered with the plate 270. That is,a depressed groove produced by a combination of the lower die 210 andthe through hole 244 forms the auxiliary space V2 on the lower side, anda depressed groove produced by a combination of the plate 270 and thethrough hole 244 forms the auxiliary space V2 on the upper side.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 14 , the plate 280 is placed on the plate270. The stack 2 is thus sandwiched between the lower die 210 and theplates 270, 280. Specifically, the plate 280 is lowered toward the plate270 such that one mold core member 260 is inserted into each throughhole 284. At this moment, as illustrated in FIG. 15 , three throughholes 285 surround one through hole 244, and these through holes 285overlap the through holes 275 as viewed from above. That is, the throughhole 285 is communicatively connected with the corresponding throughhole 275.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 14 , the upper die 290 is placed on theplate 280. Specifically, the upper die 290 is lowered toward the plate280 such that one guide shaft 220 is inserted into each insertion hole291. The stack 2 is thus sandwiched between the lower die 210 and theupper die 290. At this moment, as illustrated in FIG. 9 , one throughhole 292 overlaps one depressed groove 286 as viewed from above. Thatis, the through hole 292 is communicatively connected with thecorresponding depressed groove 286. A load is applied to the stack 2 bya not-illustrated actuator through the lower die 210 and the upper die290. The gap between the blanked members W that constitute the stack 2is thus reduced.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 16 , a resin pellet P is disposed in eachthrough hole 292. The resin pellet P is a solid resin having acylindrical shape. Subsequently, one plunger 293 is inserted into eachthrough hole 292. In this state, the controller 140 brings anot-illustrated heater into operation and also the plunger 293 intooperation. Then, the resin pellet P in a melted state is pushed out bythe plunger 293, and melted resin is charged into the through hole 292,the depressed groove 286, the through hole 285, the through hole 275,the through hole 244 (auxiliary space V2), the filling space V1, and thethrough hole 244 (auxiliary space V2) in this order. Subsequently,melted resin is solidified by a chemical change due to heating duringmolding, whereby the resin portion 3 is formed in the filling space V1and the auxiliary space V2 (third step). At this moment, the blankedmembers W that constitute the stack 2 are connected by the resin portion3 and integrated. The stacked stator core 1 in which the resin portion 3is provided on the inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 of the stack 2 isthus completed.

In some examples, the body 260 a of the mold core member 260 is spacedapart from the inner wall surface F2, and the closing portion 260 b ofthe mold core member 260 closes the open end portion 5 b, in a state inwhich the mold core member 260 is disposed in the slot 7. With thisconfiguration, even when melted resin flows around the core member 260,the shape of the mold core member 260 is not deformed and thereforemelted resin hardly leaks to the outside of the opening 8. Accordingly,when melted resin is charged into the filling space V1, the resinportion 3 is formed on the inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 but theresin portion 3 is not formed to the outside of the opening 8 side. As aresult, the air gap between the inner peripheral surface of the stack 2(through hole 2 a) and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor can bekept at a predetermined size. In the step of charging melted resin intothe filling space V1, since the closing portion 260 b of the mold coremember 260 exists at the open end portion 5 b, the open end portion 5 bis not filled with melted resin. That is, the resin portion 3 formed onthe inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 does not close the open endportion 5 b. In this configuration, since the opening 8 is kept open, awinding coil can be attached to the tooth portion 5, for example, usinga general coil winder with no need for a special material and apparatus.The winding operation thus can be performed at low cost while theinsulation between the winding coil and the stack 2 is kept by the resinportion 3. After a winding coil is attached to the tooth portion 5, afixing material for fixing the winding coil to the tooth portion 5 maybe applied to the winding coil. Specifically, the winding coil may beimpregnated dropwise with varnish and dried, or a thermosetting resin(for example, epoxy resin) may be applied around the winding coil andthen cured.

In some examples, the closing portion 260 b abuts on the inner wallsurface of the open end portion 5 b. In this configuration, the resinportion 3 is not formed on the inner wall surface of the slot 7 on theopen end portion 5 b side. Accordingly, leakage of melted resin to theoutside of the opening 8 (into the through hole 2 a of the stack 2) canbe further suppressed.

Even when the mold core member 260 abuts on the inner wall surface ofthe slot 7, a minute gap (for example, a gap with approximately a fewtens of μm) exists when viewed microscopically. Melted resin maypenetrate the gap by capillarity to cause burrs. In some examples, theclosing portion 260 b abuts on the inner wall surface of the slot 7 in aregion of the slot 7 inside the opening 8. With this configuration, theend point of the minute gap in which capillarity may occur exists at theslot inside the slot opening. Accordingly, even if melted resinpenetrates the gap, burrs are less likely to be formed on the outside ofthe opening 8.

In some examples, both of the outside surface F5 of the closing portion260 b and the inner wall surface F2 of the open end portion 5 b areinclined surfaces and abut on each other. With this configuration, thecontact area between the closing portion 260 b and the open end portion5 b is increased. The open end portion 5 b is thus closed more securelyby the closing portion 260 b of the mold core member 260. As a result,leakage of melted resin to the outside of the opening 8 can be furthersuppressed. Melted resin penetrates the minute gap by capillarity toreach the end point of the gap and thereafter develops so as to extendalong the extending direction of the inner wall surface F2 and theoutside surface F5. With this configuration, burrs are less likely toadhere to the inner wall surface of the slot 7 on the opening 8 side.Burrs, if any, thus can be removed easily.

In some examples, the open end portion 5 b is wider than the base endportion 5 a and has a pair of protrusions 5 c positioned outside thebase end portion 5 a in the circumferential direction. In other words,the resin portion 3 (the main portion 3 a) does not protrude relative tothe protrusion 5 c in the circumferential direction. In thisconfiguration, when viewed from the opening 8 side, the resin portion 3formed on the inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 is protected by theopen end portion 5 b. Accordingly, for example, when a winding coil isattached to the tooth portion 5 by a coil winder, the resin portion 3 isless likely to be damaged by the winding coil or the winder.Consequently, foreign matters due to dropping of the resin portion 3 canbe suppressed.

In some examples, the auxiliary space V2 communicatively connected withthe filling space V1 is formed at the top and the bottom of the fillingspace V1. Thus, not only the filling space V1 but also the auxiliaryspace V2 is filled with melted resin. Accordingly, the resin portion 3provided on the inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 protrudes to theoutside of the end surfaces F3 and F4 of the stack 2. As a result, whena winding coil is attached to the tooth portion 5, the winding coil isless likely to abut on the end surface F4 of the tooth portion 5. Sincethe linear distance between the winding coil and the tooth portion 5 isincreased, surface discharge is less likely to occur between the windingcoil and the tooth portion 5. Furthermore, since the resin portion 3protrudes to the outside of the end surfaces F3 and F4 of the stack 2,the state of the blanked members W entirely fastened by the resinportion 3 is easily kept even when the resin portion 3 is shrunken byheat. This configuration can suppress separation of the blanked member Wpositioned on the end surfaces F3 and F4 side of the stack 2 and alsocan suppress, for example, chipping and cracking of the resin portion 3due to the separation. If chipping occurs, resin pieces dropping fromthe resin portion 3 scatter in the surroundings as foreign matters,possibly influencing the performance of the motor when the motor isconfigured using the stacked stator core 1. If cracking occurs, surfacedischarge occurs between the winding coil and the stack 2 in the crackedregion, and electrical continuity may be established between the windingcoil and the stack 2.

In some examples, the auxiliary space V2 faces the filling space V1 andexpands continuously from the filling space V1 so as to partially facethe end surface F3 of the yoke portion 4 and the end surface F4 of thetooth portion 5. In this configuration, the resin portion 3 is formed onthe inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 and also formed on the endsurface F3 of the yoke portion 4 and the end surface F4 of the toothportion 5 around the inner wall surface F2. Accordingly, when a windingcoil is attached to the tooth portion 5, the winding coil is less likelyto abut on the end surfaces F3 and F4 of the stack 2.

In some examples, the region of the plate 240 other than the throughholes 244 abuts on the end surfaces F3 and F4 of the stack 2. The resinportion 3 is not formed in the region of the end surfaces F3 and F4 ofthe stack 2 that abuts on the plate 240. In this configuration, the endsurface F4 of the tooth portion 5 has a covered region R1 covered withthe end portion 3 b of the resin portion 3 and a non-covered region R2not covered with the resin portion 3. Here, the resin portion 3 isobtained from melted resin at high temperature (for example,approximately 120° C. to 200° C.) which is cooled to room temperatureand cured. Since melted resin is shrunken with temperature change fromhigh temperature to room temperature, internal stress may remain in theresin portion 3. When the internal stress is large, chipping or crackingeasily occurs in the resin portion 3. However, in some examples, sincethe non-covered region R2 exists on the end surface F4 of the toothportion 5, expansion and shrinkage of the resin portion 3 is alleviatedin the non-covered region R2, and the internal stress is less likely toremain in the resin portion 3. This configuration can suppress chippingin the resin portion 3.

In some examples, the corner of the depressed groove that forms theauxiliary space V2 may have a rounded cross-sectional shape or may beinclined relative to a bottom wall surface and a side wall surface ofthe depressed groove. Alternatively, in some examples, the corner of thedepressed groove that forms the auxiliary space V2 may be shaped like astep. In these cases, the corner of the resin portion 3 that extendsfrom the inner wall surface of the slot 7 around the end surface of thestack 2 is beveled (rounded or chamfered) or stepped. In thisconfiguration, when a winding coil is attached to the tooth portion 5,the winding coil is easily wound along the outer shape of the resinportion 3. This configuration reduces stress acting on the resin portion3 by the winding coil and thus can suppress, for example, chipping andcracking in the resin portion 3. Since the winding coil wound around thetooth portion 5 is compact, the motor formed such a stacked stator core1 achieves a compact size, higher efficiency, and higher output.

In some examples, the diameter-increasing members 251 are moved outwardin the radial direction of the stack 2 to apply the radially outwardforce to the inner peripheral surface of the stack 2 (through hole 2 a).With this configuration, melted resin is charged into the filling spaceV1 in a state in which the shape of the stack 2 is kept by thediameter-increasing members 251. Accordingly, deformation of the stack 2by heat of melted resin is suppressed. As a result, the stacked statorcore 1 is produced in a desired shape as designed and, therefore, themotor formed with the stacked stator core 1 can achieve improvedperformance. In addition, in some examples, since the closing portion260 b abuts on the inner wall surface of the open end portion 5 b in astate in which the mold core member 260 is inserted in the slot 7, theopen end portion 5 b is securely closed by the closing portion 260 bwhen the diameter-increasing member 251 pushes the tooth portion 5radially outward. With this configuration, leakage of melted resin tothe outside of the opening 8 (into the through hole 2 a of the stack 2)can be further suppressed.

In some examples, when the stack 2 is placed on the lower die 210, theridge 231 of one positioning block 230A is engaged in each depressedgroove 6A, and the outer peripheral surface of one positioning pin 230Bis engaged in each depressed groove 6B, whereby the stack 2 ispositioned. In this configuration, when the diameter-increasing members251 apply the radially outward force, the stack 2 is sandwiched betweenthe diameter-increasing members 251 and the positioning blocks 230A aswell as the positioning pins 230B in the radial direction. Thisconfiguration can further suppress deformation of the stack 2 by heat ofmelted resin.

In some examples, each positioning pin 230B is positioned to face thecorresponding diameter-increasing member 251 in the radial direction. Inthis configuration, since a large part of force acting on the stack 2 bythe diameter-increasing member 251 is received by the positioning pin230B at a position facing the diameter-increasing member 251 in theradial direction, the force contributing to deformation of the stack 2is suppressed. This configuration can further suppress deformation ofthe stack by heat of melted resin.

It is to be understood that not all aspects, advantages and featuresdescribed herein may necessarily be achieved by, or included in, any oneparticular example embodiment. Indeed, having described and illustratedvarious examples herein, it should be apparent that other examples maybe modified in arrangement and detail may be omitted.

For example, the open end portion 5 b of the tooth portion 5 and theclosing portion 260 b of the mold core member 260 are not limited to theforegoing examples and may employ various shapes. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 17 , the open end portion 5 b may be narrower towardthe through hole 2 a. That is, the slot 7 may expand toward the opening8 side. In this case, the closing portion 260 b of the mold core member260 has a trapezoidal shape and may have a trapezoidal shape so as to bewider toward the opening 8.

2) As illustrated in FIG. 18 , the width of the tooth portion 5 may besubstantially constant in the extending direction thereof. In this case,the closing portion 260 b of the mold core member 260 may protrudeoutward relative to the body 260 a in the circumferential direction.

3) As illustrated in FIG. 19 , the closing portion 260 b of the moldcore member 260 may close the closing portion 260 b up to the opening 8.

4) As illustrated in FIG. 20 , the closing portion 260 b of the moldcore member 260 may be positioned outside the slot 7 and the opening 8may be closed by the closing portion 260 b. In this case, the mainportion 3 a of the resin portion 3 is formed on the entire surface ofthe inner peripheral wall of the slot 7. Here, the closing portion 260 bis positioned outside the slot 7, and when the radially outward force isapplied to the inner peripheral surface of the stack 2 (through hole 2a) using the diameter-increasing member 251, a depressed groovecorresponding to the diameter-increasing member 251 is provided on theouter peripheral surface of the diameter-increasing member 251.

5) As illustrated in FIG. 21A, a ridge 5 d extending in the stackingdirection and protruding toward the slot 7 may be provided at the toothportion 5. In this case, a depressed groove 260 c corresponding to theridge 5 d may be provided at the closing portion 260 b of the mold coremember 260. On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 21B, a ridge 260 eextending in the stacking direction and protruding toward the toothportion 5 may be provided at the closing portion 260 b of the mold coremember 260. In this case, a depressed groove 5 e corresponding to theridge 260 e may be provided in the tooth portion 5. Although the ridges5 d and 260 e and the depressed grooves 260 c and 5 e have a quadratureshape in FIGS. 21A and 21B, these depressed grooves and ridges may haveany shapes that can be engaged with each other.

6) As illustrated in FIG. 22 , a portion of the end surfaces F3 and F4of the stack 2 that is covered with the end portion 3 b of the resinportion 3 may be depressed from the other portion. Although notillustrated in the figure, the surface of a portion of the end surfacesF3 and F4 of the stack 2 that is covered with the end portion 3 b of theresin portion 3 may be roughed. In this case, the adherence of the resinportion 3 to the end surfaces F3 and F4 of the stack 2 is increased.This can suppress separation of the resin portion 3 from the stack 2.

7) As illustrated in FIG. 23A, the end surface F4 of the tooth portion 5(base end portion 5 a) may be substantially entirely covered with theend portion 3 b of the resin portion 3.

8) As illustrated in FIGS. 23B and 23C, either when the end surface F4of the tooth portion 5 has the non-covered region R2 not covered withthe end portion 3 b of the resin portion 3 or when the end surface F4 ofthe tooth portion 5 is substantially entirely covered with the endportion 3 b of the resin portion 3, the end portion 3 b may have apredetermined thickness. Since the copper loss of the winding coil woundaround the tooth portion 5 tends to increase as the thickness of the endportion 3 b increases, the upper limit of the thickness of the endportion 3 b may be set as appropriate considering the performance of themotor. If the end portion 3 b is too thin, the linear distance betweenthe winding coil wound around the tooth portion 5 and the tooth portion5 is reduced, so that surface discharge is more likely to occur. Forthis reason, the lower limit of the thickness of the end portion 3 b maybe set as appropriate considering surface discharge. For example, thethickness of the end portion 3 b may be equivalent to the thickness ofthe main portion 3 a or may be larger than the thickness of the mainportion 3 a.

9) As illustrated in FIG. 24 , the end portion 3 b of the resin portion3 may extend toward the outer peripheral edge of the yoke portion 4, onthe end surface F3 of the yoke portion 4. In this case, as illustratedin FIG. 25 , the end portions 3 b extending toward the outer peripheraledge of the yoke portion 4 may be integrated so that the end portion 3 bhas an annular shape as a whole. Also in this case, as illustrated inFIG. 26 , the end surface F4 of the tooth portion 5 (base end portion 5a) may be substantially entirely covered with the end portion 3 b of theresin portion 3, or as illustrated in FIG. 27 , the end surface F4 ofthe tooth portion 5 (base end portion 5 a) may be partially covered withthe end portion 3 b of the resin portion 3. In the example in FIG. 27 ,a rectangular opening is formed at the end portion 3 b in the endsurface F4 of the base end portion 5 a, and the base end portion 5 a ispartially exposed from the opening. In these cases, since the endsurface F3 of the yoke portion 4 is covered with the resin portion 3 ina wider range, the winding coil is less likely to abut on the endsurface F3 of the yoke portion 4. Alternatively, the end portions 3 b ofthe resin portions 3 adjacent in the circumferential direction may beintegrated with each other so as to partially cover the end surface F4of the tooth portion 5. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 28A, the endportions 3 b of the resin portions 3 may be integrated with each otherfrom a region of the end surface F4 of the tooth portion 5 in thevicinity of the boundary of the yoke portion 4 (the end surface of thebase end portion 5 a) to the yoke portion 4. As illustrated in FIG. 28B,the end portions 3 b of the resin portions 3 may be integrated with eachother only in a region of the end surface F4 of the tooth portion 5 inthe vicinity of the boundary of the yoke portion 4 (the end surface ofthe base end portion 5 a). A portion of the end portion 3 b that isintegrated with the resin portion 3 adjacent in the circumferentialdirection may extend over all of the resin portions 3 to form an annularshape as a whole or may have an arc shape rather than extending over allof the resin portions 3.

10) As illustrated in FIG. 29 , the resin portion 3 is not necessarilyformed on the end surfaces F3 and F4 of the stack 2. In this case, theresin portion 3 may protrude outward relative to the end surfaces F3 andF4 of the stack 2 in the stacking direction of the stack or may notprotrude.

11) As illustrated in FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 , the main portion 3 a may bepartially not provided in a region of the inner wall surface F2 of theslot 7 that corresponds to the yoke portion 4. Similarly, the endportion 3 b may partially not provided on the end surface F3 of the yokeportion 4. That is, the resin portion 3 may be divided in thecircumferential direction in one slot 7. In this case, the amount ofresin used can be reduced.

12) As illustrated in FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 , when the main portion 3 amay be partially not provided in a region of the inner wall surface F2of the slot 7 that corresponds to the yoke portion 4, the stack 2 may bean assembly in which a plurality of core pieces 2A are combined, asillustrated in FIG. 32 . Specifically, each core piece 2A is configuredwith one yoke piece portion 4A and one tooth portion 5. The yoke pieceportion 4A is a part of the yoke portion 4 when the yoke portion 4 iscut along the cut line CL. In FIG. 32 , the cut line CL extends alongthe radial direction of the yoke portion 4 so as not to overlap theresin portion 3. That is, the stack 2 is formed such that the corepieces 2A adjacent in the circumferential direction of the center axisAx are integrated at the ends (cut lines CL) of the yoke piece portions4A. The core pieces 2A may be obtained by dividing the stack 2 along thecut line CL after the resin portions 3 are provided in the stack 2 so asnot to overlap the cut lines CL. Alternatively, the resin portions 3 maybe provided individually for the core pieces 2A in a divided state.

13) As illustrated in FIG. 33 and FIG. 34 , the end surface F4 of onetooth portion 5 and the end surface F3 of the corresponding yoke portion4 may be partially covered with the end portion 3 b, and the end surfaceF4 of another tooth portion 5 adjacent to the one tooth portion 5 in thecircumferential direction and the end surface F3 of the correspondingyoke portion 4 may be entirely covered with the end portion 3 b. Inother words, the range of the end portion 3 b provided on the endsurface F4 of the tooth portion 5 adjacent in the circumferentialdirection may vary. As illustrated in FIG. 34 , when a winding coil 400is wound around, for example, a set of three tooth portions 5 (in thecase of distributed winding), the winding coil 400 has an oval shape aswhole, and therefore the distance between the tooth portion 5 positionedat the middle and the winding coil 400 tends to increase. In thisconfiguration, formation of the end portion 3 b can be eliminated in aregion where the winding coil 400 hardly abuts on the end surface F4 ofthe tooth portion 5 positioned at the middle. Accordingly, the amount ofresin used can be reduced. Similarly, when the winding coil 400 is woundaround a set of two tooth portions 5 or when the winding coil 400 iswound around a set of four or more tooth portions 5, formation of theend portion 3 b may be eliminated in a region of the end surface F4 ofthe tooth portion 5 where the winding coil 400 hardly abuts.

14) When the end portion 3 b of the resin portion 3 is formed on the endsurface F3 of the yoke portion 4 or the end surface F4 of the toothportion 5, a hole extending in the stacking direction may be formed inadvance in the end surface F3 or F4, and this hole may also be filledwith melted resin. In this case, the adherence of the resin portion 3(end portion 3 b) to the stack 2 can be increased by the anchor effect.The tip end of the hole may expand in a direction crossing the extendingdirection of the hole such that the hole is, for example, T-shaped incross section.

15) Melted resin is charged into the filling space V1 while catching theair present in the filling space V1. As illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, FIG. 22 , FIG. 23B, FIG. 24 , FIG. 25 , and FIG. 27 to FIG. 34 , whena region (non-covered region R2) with no end portion 3 b exists on theend surface F3 of the yoke portion 4 or the end surface F4 of the toothportion 5, that is, when the plate 240 partially abuts on the endsurfaces F3 and F4 of the stack 2, the air caught by melted resin can beeasily evacuated from the gap between the end surfaces F3 and F4 and theplate 240. Since the gap is usually sufficiently smaller than theparticle size of the resin filler included in melted resin, melted resindoes not leak from the gap.

16) Since the blanked member W is formed by presswork, for example, burror shear droop occurs at the tooth portion 5, and the tooth portion 5 isnot always flat. Therefore, when melted resin is charged into thefilling space V1, the tooth portions 5 may be pressed appropriately inorder to suppress intrusion of melted resin between the tooth portions5. Specifically, the plate 240 may partially abut on the end surface F4of the tooth portion 5. For example, a region where the end surface F4of the tooth portion 5 and the plate 240 abut on each other may be setsuch that the distance G (see FIG. 4 ) from the end portion 3 b adjacentin the circumferential direction in one tooth portion 5 is at leastapproximately one-fourth of the thickness of the electrical steel sheetES.

17) As illustrated in FIGS. 35A and 35B, a through hole 260 d (channel)may be provided in the mold core member 260 to pass through in thelongitudinal direction thereof. In this case, a cooling medium iscirculated in the through hole 260 d after charging melted resin intothe filling space V1, whereby the volume of the mold core member 260 isshrunken to facilitate removal of the mold core member 260 from the slot7 of the stack 2. This configuration reduces the time required forremoving the mold core member 260 from the slot 7 of the stack 2 andthus can improve productivity of stacked stator cores 1. A channelthrough which a cooling medium can circulate in the mold core member 260may be formed instead of the through hole 260 d. That is, the entranceand the exit of the channel may be disposed at any position in the moldcore member 260. In order to increase the heat exchange efficiency, thethrough hole 260 d may have a variety of shapes such as curved, spiral,and serpentine shapes, rather than a linear shape. The cooling mediummay be liquid or gas. Examples of the liquid include water and oil.Examples of the gas include air and coolant gas (fluorocarbon-based,non-fluorocarbon-based).

18) As illustrated in FIG. 35B, a portion 261 of the mold core member260 that surrounds the through hole 260 d (channel) may be formed of amaterial different from a portion 262 outside the portion 261. Forexample, the thermal conductivity of the portion 261 may be higher thanthe thermal conductivity of the stack 2 and the portion 262.Alternatively, the thermal conductivity of the entire mold core member260 may be higher than the thermal conductivity of the stack 2. In thesecases, the shrinkage of the mold core member 260 is accelerated, so thatthe mold core member 260 can be removed from the slot 7 of the stack 2even more easily.

19) As illustrated in FIG. 36 , the stack 2 may be positioned usingpositioning members 230C having a shape conforming to the outerperipheral surface of the stack 2. As illustrated in the figure, thepositioning members 230C may apply radially inward force to the outerperipheral surface of the stack 2. In this case, the stack 2 is pushednot only by the diameter-increasing members 251 but also by thepositioning members 230C from the inside and the outside of the stack 2.In this configuration, since the shape of the stack 2 is kept by forceacting from the inside and the outside of the stack 2, deformation ofthe stack 2 by heat of melted resin can be further suppressed.

20) In the foregoing examples, melted resin is charged into the fillingspace V1 after the mold core members 260 are inserted into all of theslots 7. However, as illustrated in FIG. 37 , the positioning may beperformed in the slots 7 of the stack 2. Specifically, melted resin maybe charged into the filling space V1 between the slot 7 and the moldcore member 260 in a state in which the positioning members 500 areinserted into at least two slots 7 instead of the mold core members 260while the mold core members 260 are inserted in the remaining slots 7.In this configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 37 , while the resinportion 3 is formed between the slot 7 and the mold core member 260, theresin portion 3 is not formed between the slot 7 and the positioningmember 500.

The positioning member 500 includes a body 500 a and end portions 500 b.The body 500 a has a shape corresponding to the slot 7. The end portions500 b have a shape similar to the mold core member 260. In thisconfiguration, almost no gap is produced between the slot 7 and the body500 a when the positioning member 500 is inserted into the slot 7. Theend portion 500 b on the lower side is inserted into the insertion hole214 of the lower die 210. The end portion 500 b on the upper side isinserted through the through hole 274 of the plate 270 and the throughhole 284 of the plate 280.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 38 , the positioning members 500are removed from the slots 7 and the mold core members 260 are insertedtherein. Subsequently, melted resin is charged into the filling space V1between the slot 7 and the mold core member 260. The resin portion 3 isthus formed in the slot 7 in which the positioning member 500 has beeninserted.

When the stack 2 is positioned by inserting the positioning members 500in the slots 7 in this way, the accuracy of positioning the stack 2 isextremely high. In this configuration, melted resin is charged into thefilling space V1 in a state in which the shape of the stack 2 is kept bythe positioning members 500. Accordingly, deformation of the stack 2 byheat of melted resin is suppressed. As a result, the stacked stator core1 is produced in a desired shape as designed and, therefore, the motorformed with the stacked stator core 1 can achieve improved performance.

21) The thermal expansion coefficient of the positioning member 500 maybe higher than the thermal expansion coefficient of the stack 2.Specifically, the thermal expansion coefficient of the positioningmember 500 and the size of the body 500 a may be set to such values thatthe body 500 a substantially matches the slot 7 at the temperature atthe time of charging melted resin. Melted resin may be charged into thefilling space V1 in the same resin filling device 200 before and afterremoval of the positioning members 500 from the slots 7. Alternatively,melted resin may be charged into the filling space V1 in a state inwhich the stack 2 is loaded to a different resin filling device 200after removal of the positioning members 500 from the slots 7. The shapeof the positioning member 500 is not limited to the one described above.More specifically, the positioning member 500 has a portioncorresponding to the shape of the slot 7.

22) As illustrated in FIG. 39 , after the resin portions 3 are formed inthe stack 2 and before the resultant stacked stator core 1 is removedfrom the resin filling device 200, the insulation of the resin portions3 may be tested. Specifically, voltage may be applied between each moldcore member 260 and the stack 2 in a state in which one of a powersupply (not illustrated) of a testing device 300 is connected to eachmold core member 260 and the other of the power supply is connected tothe stack 2. In this case, the mold core member 260 not only has thefunction of forming the filling space V1 between the mold core member260 and the stack 2 but also functions as an element for insulationtesting. This eliminates the operation of removing the mold core andinserting another testing member into the slot 7 for insulation testing.The insulation testing thus can be performed efficiently. The insulationof the resin portions 3 may be tested by temporarily removing the moldcore member 260, inserting another testing member into the slot 7, andapplying voltage between the testing member and the stack 2.

23) In the foregoing examples, three through holes 275, 285 arecommunicatively connected with one filling space V1. However, at leastone through hole 275, 285 may be communicatively connected with onefilling space V1.

24) In the foregoing examples, melted resin from the through hole 292 issplit at the depressed groove 286 and supplied to a plurality of throughholes 285. However, such a depressed groove 286 does not necessarilyexist, and one through hole 292 for accommodating the resin pellet P andone filling space V1 may be connected one-to-one through one resinchannel.

25) At least the outer peripheral surface of the diameter-increasingmember 251 may be formed of an elastic material. In this case, when theouter peripheral surface of the diameter-increasing member 251 abuts onthe inner peripheral surface of the stack 2, the outer peripheralsurface of the diameter-increasing member 251 is elastically deformed.In this configuration, even when a plurality of stacks 2 vary in size,the variation in size of the stacks 2 can be absorbed by thediameter-increasing members 251. The outer peripheral surface of thediameter-increasing member 251 is easily in intimate contact with theinner peripheral surface of the stack 2. With this configuration,leakage of melted resin to the outside of the opening 8 (into thethrough hole 2 a of the stack 2) can be further suppressed. Examples ofthe elastic material include fluoropolymers, silicone resins, andurethane resins.

26) The surface of the mold core member 260 may be subjected tomold-release treatment. In this case, the mold core member 260 is easilyremoved from the slot 7 after melted resin is charged into the fillingspace V1 and solidified. As the mold-release treatment, a coating filmat least containing fluorocarbon polymer may be formed on the surface ofthe mold core member 260. The coating film may be, for example, anelectroless nickel-plating film containing fluorocarbon polymer.Alternatively, as the mold-release treatment, the surface of the moldcore member 260 may be hard chrome plated, or a mold release agent (forexample, wax) may be applied (for example, sprayed) to the surface ofthe mold core member 260.

27) The mold core member 260 may be divided into multiple pieces in thecrossing direction crossing the extending direction thereof (thecrossing plane crossing the extending direction). For example, asillustrated in FIG. 40 and FIG. 41 , the mold core member 260 may havetwo separate pieces 263 and 264 divided at the crossing plane in thevicinity of the center in the extending direction. As illustrated inFIG. 41 , the separate piece 263 has a tapered shape with the crosssection decreasing toward the separate piece 264. The separate piece 264has a tapered shape with the cross section decreasing toward theseparate piece 263. In this case, in a state in which the resin 3 isformed around the mold core member 260, the separate piece 263 is easilypulled out upward and the separate piece 264 is easily pulled outdownward. The end surface on the diameter-reduced side of the separatepiece 263 may have a depression 263 a, and the end surface on thediameter-reduced side of the separate piece 264 may have a projection264 a. In this case, when the separate pieces 263 and 264 are combined,the depression 263 a and the projection 264 a are engaged with eachother, and the end portions on the diameter-reduced side of the separatepieces 263 and 264 are connected to each other to suppress displacementfrom each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 42 , a part of the end portion on thediameter-reduced side of the separate piece 263, 264 may have a constantcross-sectional area. As illustrated in FIG. 43 , the mold core member260 may be divided into two, near one end surface of the stack 2 in theextending direction of the mold core member 260.

28) The mold core member 260 may be divided into multiple pieces in theextending direction thereof (the extending plane along the extendingdirection). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 44 and FIG. 45 , themold core member 260 may have two separate pieces 265 and 266 divided onthe extending plane in the vicinity of the center in the width directionof the mold core member 260. As illustrated in FIG. 45 , the separatepiece 265 has a tapered shape with the cross section decreasing from thelower end side toward the upper end side. More specifically, an abutmentsurface 265 a of the separate piece 265 that abuts on the separate piece266 has a tapered surface. The separate piece 266 has a tapered surfacewith the cross section decreasing from the upper end side toward thelower end side. More specifically, an abutment surface 266 a of theseparate piece 266 that abuts on the separate piece 265 has a taperedsurface. In this case, in a state in which the resin 3 is formed aroundthe mold core member 260, the separate piece 265 is easily pulled outdownward and the separate piece 266 is easily pulled out upward.

29) The mold core member 260 may be divided into multiple pieces in thecrossing direction crossing the extending direction thereof (theextending plane along the circumferential direction of the mold coremember 260). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 46 and FIG. 47 , themold core member 260 may have two separate pieces 267 and 268 divided onthe extending plane in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of themold core member 260. The separate piece 267 is formed with a body 267 aand a protrusion 267 b protruding outward from the body 267 a. Theseparate piece 268 is formed with a body 268 a surrounding theperipheral surface of the body 267 a and a pair of protrusions 268 bcovering the peripheral surface of the protrusion 277 b and protrudingoutward from the body 268 a. In this case, when the mold core member 260is to be disposed in the slot 7, as illustrated in FIG. 46 , theseparate piece 268 is first disposed in the slot 7 such that a pair ofprotrusions 268 b are positioned in the opening 8 and then the separatepiece 267 is inserted into the separate piece 268. By doing so, a pairof protrusions 268 b are pushed apart by the protrusion 267 b, so thatthe opening 8 is securely closed by a pair of protrusions 268 b. Thisconfiguration can more reliably suppress leakage of melted resin fromthe opening 8. In a state in which the resin portion 3 is formed aroundthe mold core member 260, the separate piece 267 is first pulled outfrom the separate piece 268 and then the separate piece 268 is pulledout from the slot 7, whereby the mold core member 260 is easily removedfrom the slot 7.

30) The dividing methods of the mold core member 260 described in 27) to29) above may be combined. More specifically, the mold core member 260may be formed with a combination of a plurality of separate piecesdivided in at least one of the extending direction of the mold coremember 260 and a direction crossing the extending direction.

31) As illustrated in FIG. 48 , the mold core member 260 may have atapered shape with the cross section decreasing from the upper die 290toward the lower die 210 in the stacking direction of the stack 2.Alternatively, although not illustrated, the mold core member 260 mayhave a tapered shape with the cross section decreasing from the lowerdie 210 toward the upper die 290 in the stacking direction of the stack2. All of the side surfaces of the mold core member 260 may be inclinedrelative to the stacking direction, or at least one of the side surfacesof the mold core member 260 may be inclined relative to the stackingdirection. In this case, the mold core member 260 is easily removed fromthe slot 7.

32) As illustrated in FIG. 49 , a protective film PF may be providedaround the mold core member 260. The protective film PF around the moldcore member 260 may be provided, for example, by disposing aheat-shrinkable film, tape, or the like around the mold core member 260and then heating. An example of the material of the protective film PFis silicone. In this case, since the mold releasability of theprotective film PF is high compared with the mold core member 260, themold core member 260 is easily pulled out in a state in which the resinportion 3 is formed around the mold core member 260. The presence of theprotective film PF can suppress wear of the mold core member 260 itself.

33) The mold core member 260 may be formed of a material capable ofretaining its shape to some extent and having high heat resistance andelasticity. In this case, melted resin may be charged into the fillingspace V1 in a state in which the mold core member 260 is disposed in theslot 7, and then gas (for example, air, inert gas) is charged into themold core member 260 to keep the shape of the mold core member 260.After forming the resin portion 3, the gas is evacuated from the moldcore member 260, whereby the mold core member 260 is easily pulled outfrom the slot 7.

34) The thermal expansion coefficient of the mold core member 260 may behigher than the thermal expansion coefficient of the stack 2. In thiscase, when melted resin is charged into the filling space V1, the moldcore member 260 and the stack 2 are heated, and the mold core member 260expands more than the stack 2. With this configuration, the open endportion 5 b is securely closed by the closing portion 260 b of theexpanded mold core member 260. Leakage of melted resin to the outside ofthe opening 8 thus can be further suppressed. In this case, after meltedresin is charged into the filling space V1, the mold core member 260 iscooled to room temperature, whereby the mold core member 260 shrinksrelatively to a larger degree than the stack 2. In this configuration,the mold core member 260 is easily removed from the slot 7 after theresin portion 3 is formed.

35) In the foregoing examples, since the blanked member W thatconstitutes the stack 2 is formed of an electrical steel sheet ES, thethermal expansion coefficient of the mold core member 260 may be higherthan the thermal expansion coefficient (10 [10⁻⁶/K]) of the electricalsteel sheet ES. Specifically, the mold core member 260 may be formed of,for example, stainless steel, aluminum, copper alloy, or aluminum alloy(for example, Al—Cu, Al—Zn—Mg). For example, SUS303 may be used as thestainless steel. The thermal expansion coefficient (linear expansivity)of SUS303 is approximately 17.3 [10⁻⁶/K]. The thermal expansioncoefficient (linear expansivity) of aluminum is approximately 23[10⁻⁶/K].

36) The thermal expansion coefficient of the lower die 210 and the lowerplate 240 (here collectively referred to as lower holding plate) may behigher than the thermal expansion coefficient of the stack 2.Alternatively, the thermal expansion coefficient of the upper plate 240,the plates 270, 280, and the upper die 290 (here collectively referredto as the upper holding plate) may be higher than the thermal expansioncoefficient of the stack 2. The thermal expansion coefficient of both ofthe lower holding plate and the upper holding plate may be higher thanthe thermal expansion coefficient of the stack 2. In these cases, whenmelted resin is charged into the filling space V1, the lower holdingplate or the upper holding plate expands more than the stack 2. Thestack 2 is therefore pressed by the lower holding plate and the upperholding plate in the stacking direction. Accordingly, leakage of meltedresin charged in the filling space V1 from the gap between the lowerholding plate or the upper holding plate and the stack 2 can besuppressed.

37) A surface of at least one member that forms the lower holding platemay be subjected to mold-release treatment, in the same manner as themold core member 260. A surface of at least one member that forms theupper holding plate may be subjected to mold-release treatment, in thesame manner as the mold core member 260.

38) The lower die 210 and the lower plate 240 serving as the lowerholding plate may be separate as in some examples or may be integrated.Of the upper plate 240, the plates 270, 280, and the upper die 290serving as the upper holding plate, at least two adjacent in thestacking direction may be separate as in some examples above or may beintegrated.

39) In the foregoing examples, an insertion hole for receiving the moldcore member 260 is not provided in the upper die 290. However, aninsertion hole for receiving the mold core member 260 may be provided inthe upper die 290. The shapes of the tooth portion 5 and the slot 7 varyaccording to the kind of the stacked stator core 1, and the shape of themold core member 260 varies, accordingly. In the former case, there isno need for replacing the upper die 290 when the stacked stator core 1of a different kind is manufactured.

40) Melted resin may contain filler. The filler may be anisotropicfiller. As used in the present disclosure, “anisotropic filler” meansfiller having a size with different sizes of the long side and the shortside, rather than shapes such as cube and sphere. Examples of thematerial of the filler include silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, andaluminum nitride. The particle size of the filler may be approximately10 μm to 150 μm or may be approximately 20 μm to 70 μm. When theparticle size of the filler is equal to or greater than 10 μm, theflowability of melted resin containing the filler tends to increase (thefilling property of melted resin containing the filler in the fillingspace V1 and the auxiliary space V2 tends to increase). When theparticle size of the filler is equal to or less than 150 μm, leakage ofmelted resin containing the filler from the gap tends to be suppressed.Here, the distance between the closing portion 260 b of the mold coremember 260 and the open end portion 5 b of the tooth portion 5 may beequal to or less than 20 μm or may be equal to or less than 10 μm. Inthis case, leakage of melted resin containing the filler from the gapbetween the closing portion 260 b and the open end portion 5 b can beparticularly suppressed.

41) In the foregoing examples, the mold core members 260 are attached tothe lower die 210 after the stack 2 is mounted on the lower die 210.However, the stack 2 may be mounted on the lower die 210 after the moldcore members 260 are attached to the lower die 210.

42) All of the mold core members 260 may be attached to the lower die210 at a time, or the mold core members 260 may be attached to the lowerdie 210 one by one or in units of two or more.

43) The winding coil may be attached to the tooth portion 5 by a directwinding method in which a metal wire is fed from a nozzle and directlywound around the tooth portion 5 or by an inserter method in which thewound winding coil is inserted into the stack 2 in the stackingdirection.

44) In the foregoing examples, a plurality of blanked members W arestacked to constitute the stack 2. However, the stack 2 may beconfigured such that a plurality of blocks (core members) are stacked.The block is, for example, formed by stacking and integrating aplurality of blanked members W.

45) The core members (the blanked members W or the blocks) may be joinedto each other by connecting tabs, may be joined to each other byadhesive, or may be joined to each other by welding. Alternatively, asillustrated in FIG. 50 , the core members may be joined to each other bytemporarily-connecting tab parts 9. In this case, thetemporarily-connecting tab parts 9 may be removed after the resinfilling device 200 forms the resin portions 3 in the stack 2, or thetemporarily-connecting tab part 9 may be removed before the resinfilling device 200 forms the resin portions 3 in the stack 2.

Here, the temporarily-connecting tab part 9 is fitted in the depressedgroove 6 of the stack 2. The temporarily-connecting tab part 9 isconfigured such that temporarily-connecting pieces 9 a are stacked. Thetemporarily-connecting pieces 9 a are pressed into the original coremember along a predetermined cut line, for example, by pushing-back andtemporarily fitted in the core member to such an extent not easilydisengaged manually. The temporarily-connecting pieces 9 a are fastenedto each other by a temporarily-connecting tab 9 b. Specifically, thetemporarily-connecting tab 9 b has a bend (not illustrated) formed inthe temporarily-connecting piece 9 a positioned on a layer other thanthe bottom layer of the temporarily-connecting tab part 9 and a throughhole (not illustrated) formed in the temporarily-connecting tab piece 9a positioned on the bottom layer of the temporarily-connecting tab part9. The bend includes a depression formed on the front surface side ofthe temporarily-connecting tab piece 9 a and a projection formed on theback surface side of the temporarily-connecting tab piece 9 a. Thedepression of the bend of one temporarily-connecting tab piece 9 a isjoined to the projection of the bend of another temporarily-connectingtab piece 9 a adjacent on the front surface of the onetemporarily-connecting tab piece 9 a. The projection of the bend of onetemporarily-connecting tab piece 9 a is joined to the depression of thebend of yet another temporarily-connecting tab piece 9 a adjacent on theback surface side of the one temporarily-connecting tab piece 9 a. Theprojection of the bend of the temporarily-connecting tab piece 9 aadjacent to the bottom layer of the temporarily-connecting tab part 9 isjoined to the through hole. The through hole has a function ofpreventing the temporarily-connecting tab part 9 of the subsequentlyproduced stack 2 from being fastened to the previously produced stack 2by the bend when stacks 2 are continuously produced.

46) In the foregoing examples, the diameter increaser 250 is configuredwith the diameter-increasing members 251 and the plunger member 252.However, a diameter increaser of any other structure that can push thestack 2 (tooth portions 5) radially outward from the inner diameter sideof the stack 2 (the inside of the through hole 2 a) may be used. Forexample, a mechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic diameter increaser may beused. Alternatively, a diameter increaser that operates using thermalexpansion characteristic may be used.

47) The timing at which the diameter increaser 250 allows thediameter-increasing members 251 to move outward in the radial directionof the stack 2 and the outer peripheral surfaces of thediameter-increasing members 251 come into abutment with the innerperipheral surfaces of the through holes 2 a and 240 a is not limited tothe one in the foregoing examples. The timing may be after the plate 270is placed on the stack 2 and the plate 240, may be after the plate 280is placed on the plate 270, or may be after the upper die 290 is placedon the plate 280. That is, after a load is applied to the stack 2through the lower die 210 and the upper die 290, the outer peripheralsurfaces of the diameter-increasing members 251 may be brought intoabutment with the inner peripheral surfaces of the through holes 2 a and240 a.

48) The thickness of each blanked member W that constitutes the stack 2is not necessarily the same and may vary in some cases. Therefore, ifthe resin portion 3 is formed in the slot 7 with a certain load appliedto any stack 2, and a plurality of blanked members W are fastened by theresin portion 3, the height of the resultant stacked stator core 1 mayvary. Then, when a load is applied to the stack 2 through the lower die210 and the upper die 290, a load may be applied to the stack 2 in thestacking direction thereof through the lower die 210 and the upper die290 such that the stacking height of the stack 2 achieves apredetermined target stacking height. In this case, the heights ofresulting stacked stator cores 1 are substantially the same. The stackedstator core 1 having a desired size as designed thus can be obtained. Aload in a predetermined range may be applied such that the stackingheight falls within, for example, the range of the target stackingheight ±0.01 mm. When the load is equal to or higher than apredetermined lower limit value, a gap is less likely to occur betweenthe adjacent blanked members W and leakage of melted resin from the gapcan be suppressed. When the load is equal to or lower than apredetermined upper limit value, the force of the stack 2 returning tothe initial stacking height when unloaded (which is called spring backforce) is reduced, and cracking of the resin portion 3 due to stressconcentration is less likely to occur. The load within the predeterminedrange may be, for example, approximately 20 kN to 50 kN.

In order to apply a load to the stack 2 in the stacking directionthrough the lower die 210 and the upper die 290 such that the stackingheight of the stack 2 achieves a predetermined target stacking height, astopper member having a height of the target stacking height may bedisposed between the lower die 210 and the upper die 290. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 51 , a lower die 210A in which a plurality ofstopper members 210 a are provided integrally may be used. In this case,a load is applied to the stack 2 through the lower die 210A and theupper die 290 until the plate 270A comes into abutment with the tip endsof the stopper members 210 a, whereby the stacking height of the stack 2substantially matches the height of the stopper member 210 a. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 52 , in addition to the lower die 210Ain which a plurality of stopper members 210 a are provided integrally,the diameter-increasing members 251 having a height of the targetstacking height may be used and, in addition, the inner diameter of thethrough hole 270 a of the plate 270A may be set to be smaller than theouter shape of the diameter-increasing members 251. In this case, a loadis applied to the stack 2 through the lower die 210A and the upper die290 until the plate 270A comes into abutment with the tip ends of thestopper members 210 a and the diameter-increasing members 251, wherebythe stacking height of the stack 2 substantially matches the height ofthe stopper member 210 a. By doing so, the stacking height of the stack2 can be easily matched with the target stacking height. At least one ofthe stopper member 210 a having a height of the target stacking heightand the diameter-increasing member 251 having a height of the targetstacking height may be used. In the manner in FIG. 51 and FIG. 52 , theplate 240 is integrated with each of the lower die 210A and the plate270A.

49) For the purpose of further enhancing the insulation between thewinding coil and a portion of the tooth portion 5 at least in thevicinity of the opening 8 of the slot 7, an insulator (for example,resin molded product, insulating paper) may be additionally provided atthis portion.

50) For the purpose of preventing the winding coil from sticking outfrom the opening 8 of the slot 7 toward the through hole 2 a (toward therotor) or for the purpose of fixing the winding coil in the slot 7,insulating paper may be additionally provided in the opening 8 of theslot 7. At this moment, an engagement portion (for example, thedepression illustrated in FIG. 21B, the projection illustrated in FIG.21A) may be provided on a side surface of the tooth portion 5 in thevicinity of the opening 8 (the side surface of the open end portion 5b). In this case, insulating paper can be attached stably to theengagement portion, and the productivity of the stack 2 having theinsulating paper disposed in the vicinity of the opening 8 can beincreased.

51) In some examples described above, the step of forming the resinportions 3 by the resin filling device 200 is performed after the stepof forming the stack 2 by the blanking device 130. However, the stack 2may be subjected to a predetermined heat treatment before the stack 2 isput into the resin filling device 200. The heat treatment may be, forexample, burn-off, a combination of annealing and bluing, or acombination of burn-off and bluing. As illustrated in FIG. 50 , when thecore members are joined to each other through the temporarily-connectingtab parts 9, the temporarily-connecting tab parts 9 may be removed fromthe stack 2 before the heat treatment of the stack 2, or thetemporarily-connecting tab parts 9 may be removed from the stack 2 afterthe heat treatment of the stack 2. When the temporarily-connecting tabparts 9 are removed from the stack 2 before the heat treatment of thestack 2, the core members are not bound by the temporarily-connectingtab parts 9 and therefore swell involved with heat treatment is lesslikely to occur in the core members. In this configuration, since thestack 2 is firmly held between the lower die 210 and the plate 270 inthe resin filling process by the resin filling device 200, melted resinis less likely to leak from the resin filling device 200.

52) In some examples, the stack 2 is formed with blanked members Wblanked from an electrical steel sheet ES. However, the stack 2 may beformed with blanked members blanked from a thin plate of an amorphousmaterial.

53) In some examples, the resin portion 3 is formed using athermosetting resin. However, the resin portion 3 may be formed using athermoplastic resin.

54) As illustrated in FIG. 53 , the main portion 3 a and the end portion3 b of the resin portion 3 may be formed in different steps. In thiscase, the kind of resin of the main portion 3 a and the kind of resin ofthe end portion 3 b may be different. For example, the main portion 3 amay be formed using a first resin with a relatively low viscosity (highflowability), and the end portion 3 b may be formed using a second resinwith a relatively high viscosity. In this case, the first resin can besmoothly charged into the filling space V1. In addition, the strength ofthe end portion 3 b is enhanced because the end portion 3 b that tendsto be under load when a winding coil is attached to the tooth portion 5is formed of the second resin. This configuration can suppress, forexample, chipping and cracking in the end portion 3 b.

Referring now to FIG. 54 to FIG. 57 , an example of the method offorming the main portion 3 a and the end portion 3 b of the resinportion 3 in different steps is described. First of all, as illustratedin FIG. 54 , the guide shaft 220, the positioning block 230A, thepositioning pin 230B, the diameter increaser 250, the stack 2, the moldcore members 260, a plate 270B, the plate 280, and the upper die 290 areattached in a predetermined order on the lower die 210. Here, the plate270B differs from the plate 270 according to the foregoing examples inthat the through hole 275 is directly communicated with the fillingspace V1.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 55 , a resin pellet P1 is disposed in eachthrough hole 292 of the upper die 290. The resin pellet P1 may be formedof, for example, the first resin with a relatively low viscosity (highflowability). Next, one plunger 293 is inserted into each through hole292. In this state, the controller 140 brings a not-illustrated heaterinto operation and also the plunger 293 into operation. Then, the resinpellet P1 in a melted state is pushed out by the plunger 293, and meltedresin is charged into the through hole 292, the depressed groove 286,the through hole 285, the through hole 275, and the filling space V1 inthis order. Subsequently, melted resin is solidified by a chemicalchange due to heating during molding, whereby the main portion 3 a isformed in the filling space V1. At this moment, the blanked members Wconstituting the stack 2 are connected by the main portion 3 a andintegrated. The stack 2 in which the main portion 3 a is provided in theslot 7 is thus obtained.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 56 , the guide shaft 220, the positioningblock 230A, the positioning pin 230B, the plate 240, the diameterincreaser 250, the stack 2 with the main portion 3 a in the slot 7, theplate 240, the mold core member 260, the plate 270, the plate 280, andthe upper die 290 are attached in a predetermined order on a lower die210B. Here, the lower die 210B differs from the lower die 210 accordingto the foregoing examples in that a plurality of through holes 216communicatively connected with the through holes 244 of the plate 240are provided.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 57 , a resin pellet P2 is disposed in eachthrough hole 216 of the lower die 210B, and a resin pellet P2 isdisposed in each through hole 292 of the upper die 290. The resin pelletP2 may be formed of, for example, the second resin with a relativelyhigh viscosity. Next, one plunger 217 is inserted into each through hole216, and one plunger 293 is inserted into each through hole 292. In thisstate, the controller 140 brings a not-illustrated heater into operationand also the plungers 217 and 293 into operation. Then, the resin pelletP2 in a melted state is pushed out by the plunger 217, and melted resinis charged into the through hole 216 and the through hole 244 on thelower side (auxiliary space V2) in this order. Similarly, the resinpellet P2 in a melted state is pushed out by the plunger 293, and meltedresin is charged into the through hole 292, the depressed groove 286,the through hole 285, the through hole 275, and the through hole 244 onthe upper side (auxiliary space V2) in this order. Subsequently, meltedresin is solidified by a chemical change due to heating during molding,whereby the end portion 3 b is formed in the auxiliary space V2. Thestacked stator core 1 in which the resin portion 3 is provided on theinner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 of the stack 2 is thus completed.

55) As illustrated in FIGS. 58A and 58B, the main portion 3 a may bedisposed to be shifted from the end portion 3 b such that the mainportion 3 a protrudes toward the slot 7 relative to the end portion 3 b.That is, a step St may be provided between the main portion 3 a and theend portion 3 b. In this case, when a winding coil is attached to thetooth portion 5, the winding coil is easily bent at the step St wherethe main portion 3 a and the end portion 3 b are shifted from eachother, and the diameter of winding coil wound around the tooth portion 5is reduced. This configuration reduces the coil length as a whole.Accordingly, heat generated in the winding coil can be suppressed, andthe height of the stacked stator core 1 after the winding coil isattached can be reduced as a whole. The width of the step St may be, forexample, equal to or less than 0.1 mm. For the resin portion 3 in whichthe main portion 3 a is shifted from the end portion 3 b, for example,the through hole 244 may be provided in the plate 240 such that thefilling space V1 is positioned to be shifted from the auxiliary spaceV2.

As illustrated in FIG. 58A, while the corner of the end portion 3 b onthe main portion 3 a side is beveled, the corner of the end portion 3 bon the side away from the main portion 3 a is not necessarily beveled.As illustrated in FIG. 58B, both of the corner of the end portion 3 b onthe main portion 3 a side and the corner on the side away from the mainportion 3 a may be beveled. Also in this case, the shape of the bevelmay be rounded or chamfered or may be any other shapes such as atrapezoidal shape and a step shape as long as the corner is cut off.Alternatively, the main portion 3 a or the end portion 3 b of the resinportion 3 may be projecting or depressed such that protrusions anddepressions are alternately arranged in the extending direction of thetooth portion so as to conform to the shape of the winding coil attachedto the tooth portion 5. When the corner of the end portion 3 b isbeveled, the end portion 3 b can be easily released from the mold.

Here, to form the end portion 3 b with the beveled corner on the mainportion 3 a, a projection having a shape corresponding to the bevel needto be provided in the plate 240. The tip end of the projection issharpened because the beveled corner of the end portion 3 b expandsoutward as it comes closer to the main portion 3 a in the stackingdirection. In this configuration, when the step St does not existbetween the main portion 3 a and the end portion 3 b, the wall thicknessof the projection is reduced. Accordingly, the strength of the tip endof the projection (the sharpened portion) is decreased, leading to aconcern about stable production of the end portion 3 b with the beveledcorner. However, the thickness of the projection is increased when thewidth of the step St defined by the tip end of the projection (which maybe called “allowance” of the projection) is ensured to provide the stepSt between the main portion 3 a and the end portion 3 b. With thisconfiguration, since the strength of the tip end of the projection isensured, the end portion 3 b with the beveled corner on the main portion3 a side can be stably produced.

Although not illustrated in the figures, the corner of the end portion 3b on the main portion 3 a side and the corner on the side away from themain portion 3 a are not necessarily beveled.

56) The width of the tooth portion 5 may be reduced and/or the innerdiameter of the yoke portion 4 may be increased toward both end surfacesof the stack 2 in the stacking direction. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 59 , FIG. 60A and FIG. 60B, the width of the tooth portion 5 in theblanked member W1 serving as the outermost layer (the top layer or thebottom layer) of the stack 2 may be smaller than the width of the toothportion 5 in the blanked member W2 serving as a layer other than theoutermost layer of the stack 2, and the inner diameter of the yokeportion 4 in the blanked member W1 serving as the outermost layer of thestack 2 may be larger than the inner diameter of the yoke portion 4 inthe blanked member W2 serving as a layer other than the outermost layerof the stack 2. As illustrated in FIG. 60A, the tip end of the toothportion 5 in the blanked member W1 serving as the outermost layer of thestack 2 may substantially match the tip end of the tooth portion 5 inthe blanked member W2 serving as a layer other than the outermost layerof the stack 2. As illustrated in FIG. 60B, the tip end of the toothportion 5 in the blanked member W1 serving as the outermost layer of thestack 2 may be positioned closer to the yoke portion 4 than the tip endof the tooth portion 5 in the blanked member W2 serving as a layer otherthan the outermost layer of the stack 2.

In these cases, the corner of the tooth portion 5 on the slot 7 sideand/or the corner of the yoke portion 4 on the slot 7 side is missing.In this configuration, the thickness of a portion of the resin portion 3that extends from the inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 around the endsurfaces F3 and F4 of the stack 2 is easily ensured. Cracking in thisportion of the resin portion 3 thus can be suppressed. When a windingcoil is attached to the tooth portion 5, this portion of the resinportion 3 can suppress dielectric breakdown between the winding coil andthe tooth portion 5 and/or the yoke portion 4.

The width of the tooth portion 5 in a plurality of blanked members W1 inthe vicinity of the outermost layer of the stack 2 may be smaller thanthe width of the tooth portion 5 in the other blanked members W, and theinner diameter of the yoke portion 4 in a plurality of blanked membersW1 in the vicinity of the outermost layer of the stack 2 may be largerthan the inner diameter of the yoke portion 4 in the other blankedmembers W. The width of the tooth portion 5 in a plurality of blankedmembers W1 in the vicinity of the outermost layer of the stack 2 may beconstant in the stacking direction or may be reduced continuously orstepwise toward the end surfaces of the stack 2. The inner diameter ofthe yoke portion 4 in a plurality of blanked members W1 in the vicinityof the outermost layer of the stack 2 may be constant in the stackingdirection or may be increased continuously or stepwise toward the endsurfaces of the stack 2. In the manner illustrated in FIG. 59 , FIG. 60Aand FIG. 60B, as illustrated in FIGS. 61A and 61B, a step St may beprovided between the main portion 3 a and the end portion 3 b, or thecorner of the end portion 3 b may be beveled.

57) The stacked stator core 1 may be produced using a resin fillingdevice having a configuration different from the one in the foregoingexamples. Referring now to FIG. 62 to FIG. 64 , a resin filling device700 according to another example is described. The resin filling device700 includes a transportation mechanism 710, a movement mechanism 720,and a filling mechanism 730.

As illustrated in FIG. 62 and FIG. 63 , the transportation mechanism 710has transportation rollers 711 and a pair of transfer arms 712. Thetransportation rollers 711 are laid between the blanking device 130 andthe movement mechanism 720 and between the movement mechanism 720 and asubsequent device. The transportation rollers 711 have the function oftransporting the transportation member 701 configured to be loaded withthe stack 2, between the blanking device 130, the movement mechanism720, and the subsequent device. In this configuration, thetransportation rollers 711 are disposed on the upstream side and thedownstream side of the movement mechanism 720.

Here, as illustrated in detail in FIG. 64 , the transportation member701 has a transportation plate 702 and a plurality of positioning pins703. The transportation plate 702 is a plate-like member having arectangular shape and can be loaded with the stack 2. The plate 702 hasone through hole 702 a and a plurality of through holes 702 b. Thethrough hole 702 a has a circular shape and is positioned at the centerof the transportation plate 702. The through hole 702 a may beequivalent to the inner diameter of the stack 2 or may be slightlysmaller than the inner diameter of the stack 2.

In some examples, 48 through holes 702 b are provided in thetransportation plate 702. A plurality of through holes 702 b arearranged substantially at regular intervals in a circular shape so as tosurround the through hole 702 a, outside the through hole 702 a. Thethrough holes 702 b are disposed at positions corresponding one-to-oneto the slots 7 of the stack 2 placed on the transportation plate 702.Each through hole 702 b has a shape corresponding to the mold coremember 260 and has a size equivalent to the mold core member 260. Adepressed groove 702 c having a shape corresponding to the mold coremember 260 and being slightly larger than the mold core member 260 isprovided around each through hole 702 b and on the surface of thetransportation plate 702. The stack 2 formed in the blanking device 130is placed on the transportation plate 702 such that the through hole 2 aoverlaps the through hole 702 a and each slot 7 overlaps thecorresponding through hole 702 b.

A plurality of positioning pins 703 are provided on the transportationplate 702 so as to protrude upward from the surface of thetransportation plate 702. In some examples, six positioning pins 703 areprovided in the transportation plate 702. The positioning pin 703 has arectangular prism shape. The positioning pins 703 are arrangedsubstantially at regular intervals in a circular shape, outside thethrough holes 702 b. These positioning pins 703 are engaged in thecorresponding depressed grooves 6 of the stack 2 in a state in which thestack 2 is placed on the transportation plate 702.

Returning to FIG. 62 and FIG. 63 , a pair of transfer arms 712 isconfigured to hold the transportation plate 702 from the sides. A pairof transfer arms 712 has the function of holding the transportationplate 702 transported to the vicinity of the movement mechanism 720 bythe upstream transportation rollers 711 and transferring thetransportation plate 702 to the lower die 210 (which will be describedin detail later) in the movement mechanism 720. A pair of transfer arms712 has the function of holding the transportation plate 702 placed onthe lower die 210 and transferring the transportation plate 702 to thedownstream transportation rollers 711.

The movement mechanism 720 has a base 721, an elevation mechanism 722, apair of rails 723, the lower die 210 (base member), the diameterincreaser 250, a diameter-increasing mechanism 724, and a plurality ofmold core members 260.

The base 721 is a plate-like member having a rectangular shape. Athrough hole 721 a is provided in the base 721. The elevation mechanism722 includes an elevation rod 722 a and a drive source 722 b. Theelevation rod 722 a is shaped like a straight rod. The elevation rod 722a is inserted in the through hole 721 a of the base 721 and extendsalong the vertical direction. A flange 722 c extending radially outwardfrom the elevation rod 722 a is provided at the upper end of theelevation rod 722 a. The drive source 722 b is attached to the lower endof the elevation rod 722 a. The drive source 722 b is configured toelevate and lower the elevation rod 722 a relative to the base 721. Thedrive source 722 b may be, for example, a hydraulic cylinder or a linearactuator.

A pair of rails 723 is provided on the base 721. A pair of rails 723extends in parallel so as to face each other with the through hole 721 aof the base 721 interposed therebetween. One end of a pair of rails 723is positioned in the vicinity of the through hole 721 a. The other endof a pair of rails 723 extends to the outside of the base 721. The otherend of a pair of rails 723 is positioned between the upstreamtransportation rollers 711 and the downstream transportation rollers 711as viewed from above.

The lower die 210 is attached to a pair of rails 723 through a slideunit 725 provided on the underside of the lower die 210. In thisconfiguration, the lower die 210 can move along a pair of rails 723between one end and the other end of a pair of rails 723. A through hole210 b is provided at the center of the lower die 210 (see FIG. 63 ).

The diameter increaser 250 is placed on the lower die 210. Theconfiguration of the diameter increaser 250 is similar as in theforegoing examples. That is, the diameter increaser 250 includes aplurality of diameter-increasing members 251 and a plunger member 252. Aplurality of diameter-increasing members 251 are annular as a whole asviewed from above. A depressed groove 254 is provided on the lowersurface of the diameter-increasing member 251, and the guide rail 215provided on the front surface of the lower die 210 can be inserted inthe depressed groove 254. With this configuration, thediameter-increasing member 251 is movable in the extending direction ofthe guide rail 215. Although not illustrated in the figures, an annularelastic member (for example, an O-ring) may be attached to be stretchedaround a plurality of diameter-increasing members 251. In thisconfiguration, the elastic member applies biasing force to a pluralityof diameter-increasing members 251 in a direction in which they comecloser to each other (radially inward). The plunger member 252 isdisposed within the inner peripheral surface 253 of thediameter-increasing member 251.

As illustrated in FIG. 63 , the diameter-increasing mechanism 724includes an elevation rod 724 a, an engagement member 724 b, anauxiliary holding plate 724 c, and an elastic member 724 d. Theelevation rod 724 a is shaped like a straight rod. The elevation rod 724a is inserted in the through hole 210 b of the lower die 210 and extendsalong the vertical direction. The plunger member 252 is attached to theupper end of the elevation rod 724 a.

The engagement member 724 b is substantially shaped like a letter C. Theengagement member 724 b is attached to the lower end of the elevationrod 724 a such that its open end side faces downward. The engagementmember 724 b moves along a pair of rails 723 together with the lower die210, and when the engagement member 724 b reaches the flange 722 c, theengagement member 724 b is engaged with the flange 722 c.

The auxiliary holding plate 724 c is attached to the lower die 210 onthe underside of the lower die 210. The auxiliary holding plate 724 c ispositioned above the engagement member 724 b in a state in which theelevation rod 724 a is inserted.

The elastic member 724 d is placed on the auxiliary holding plate 724 c.The elastic member 724 d has the function of biasing the elevation rod724 a upward. The elastic member 724 d may be, for example, acompression coil spring. With this configuration, when the engagementmember 724 b is engaged with the flange 722 c and the elevation rod 724a is pulled downward, the plunger member 252 lowers accordingly. Eachdiameter-increasing member 251 then moves radially outward along theguide rail 215. On the other hand, when the engagement member 724 bcomes apart from the flange 722 c and the pulling force is removed fromthe lower end of the elevation rod 724 a, the elastic member 724 dbiases the elevation rod 724 a to push the elevation rod 724 a upward.In this configuration, the load applied by the plunger member 252 toeach diameter-increasing member 251 is also removed. At the same time,each diameter-increasing member 251 moves radially inward along theguide rail 215 because of the annular elastic member.

A plurality of mold core members 260 are attached to the lower die 210so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of the lower die 210. Aplurality of mold core members 260 are arranged substantially at regularintervals in a circular shape so as to surround the diameter increaser250. The mold core members 260 are disposed at positions correspondingone-to-one to the slots 7 of the stack 2.

The filling mechanism 730 has a plate 270 and an upper die 290. In themanner in FIG. 62 , the plate 270 differs from the plate 270 accordingto the foregoing examples in that the plates 240 and 280 are integrated.In the manner in FIG. 62 , the upper die 290 differs from the upper die290 according to the foregoing examples in that through holes areprovided at positions corresponding to the diameter increaser 250, themold core members 260, and the positioning pins 703.

Referring now to FIG. 62 and FIG. 65 to FIG. 67 , a method of formingthe resin portions 3 in the slots 7 of the stack 2 using the resinfilling device 200 as described above (a method of manufacturing thestacked stator core 1) is described.

First of all, the stack 2 is formed in the blanking device 130, and whenthe stack 2 is ejected from the blanking device 130, the stack 2 isplaced on the transportation plate 702. At this moment, the through hole2 a of the stack 2 overlaps the through hole 702 a of the transportationplate 702. Each slot 7 of the stack 2 overlaps the corresponding throughhole 702 b of the transportation plate 702. Each positioning pin 703 ofthe transportation plate 702 is engaged with the corresponding depressedgroove 6 of the stack 2 (see FIG. 62 ).

Next, the transportation plate 702 (transportation member 701) loadedwith the stack 2 is transported by the upstream transportation rollers711 to the vicinity of the movement mechanism 720 (see FIG. 62 ). Atthis moment, the lower die 210 is positioned on the other end of a pairof rails 723 (first position).

Next, a pair of transfer arms 712 operates to transfer thetransportation member 701 to the lower die 210 while the transportationplate 702 is gripped from both sides by a pair of transfer arms 712.Specifically, the transfer arm 712 stacks the transportation member 701onto the lower die 210 such that the transportation member 701 lowerstoward the lower die 210. At this moment, the diameter increaser 250 isinserted into the through hole 702 a of the transportation plate 702 andthe through hole 2 a of the stack 2. Each mold core member 260 isinserted into the corresponding through hole 702 b of the transportationplate 702 and the corresponding slot 7 of the stack 2 (see FIG. 65 ).

Next, the lower die 210 moves on a pair of rails 723 to reach the oneend side of a pair of rails 723 (second position). At this moment, theengagement member 724 b is engaged with the flange 722 c so that thediameter-increasing members 251 increase the diameter. The outerperipheral surface of each diameter-increasing member 251 then abuts onthe inner peripheral surface of the through hole 2 a to apply theradially outward force thereto.

Next, the plate 270 and the upper die 290 are placed on the stack 2, andthe plunger 293 is operated in a state in which one resin pellet P andone plunger 293 are disposed in each through hole 292 of the upper die290 (see FIG. 66 ). Then, the resin pellet P in a melted state is pushedout by the plunger 293, and melted resin is charged into the fillingspace V1 and the auxiliary space V2. Subsequently, melted resin issolidified, whereby the resin portion 3 is formed in the filling spaceV1 and the auxiliary space V2. The stacked stator core 1 in which theresin portion 3 is provided on the inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7of the stack 2 is thus completed.

In the resin filling device 700 as described above, a plurality of moldcore members 260 can be inserted into the corresponding slots 7simultaneously and easily only by stacking the transportation member 701onto the lower die 210.

In the resin filling device 700 as described above, the diameterincreaser 250 is disposed in the inside of the stack 2 only by stackingthe transportation member 701 onto the lower die 210. With thisconfiguration, the diameter-increaser 250 also can be disposed in thestack 2 easily and quickly.

In the resin filling device 700 described above, the position where thetransportation member 701 is stacked onto the lower die 210 (firstposition) differs from the position where melted resin is charged intothe stack 2 (second position). In this configuration, the fillingmechanism 730 is disposed in a region different from the region wherethe transfer arms 712 transfer the transportation member 701 to thelower die 210. Accordingly, the size of the resin filling device 700 canbe reduced.

In the resin filling device 700 described above, the position where thetransportation member 701 is stacked onto the lower die 210 (firstposition) and the position where melted resin is charged into the stack2 (second position) may be the same or in the vicinity to each other. Inthis case, the resin filling device 700 does not have to include therails 723 or the movement mechanism 720 itself.

The diameter increaser 250 is not necessarily provided in the lower die210.

In the resin filling device 700 described above, the transfer arms 712stack the transportation member 701 onto the lower die 210. However, thelower die 210 may elevate toward the transportation member 701 so thatthey are stacked on each other. That is, at least one of thetransportation member 701 and the lower die 210 moves toward the otherso that they are stacked on each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 68 , the through hole 702 b and the depressedgroove 702 c are not provided in the transportation plate 702, and anauxiliary plate 218 having depressed grooves 218 a corresponding to thedepressed grooves 702 c may be provided in the lower die 210. In thiscase, when the stack 2 is placed onto the transportation plate 702, theyoke portion 4 is supported in a region of the transportation plate 702in the vicinity of the through hole 702 b, but the tooth portion 5overlaps the through hole 702 b and is not supported by thetransportation plate 702. In this case, as illustrated in the figure,when the transportation member 701 is removed from the lower die 210after the resin portion 3 is formed on the inner wall surface F2 of theslot 7, the state of the formed resin portion 3 can be recognized notonly from above but also from the transportation plate 702 side (frombelow) through the through hole 702 b.

58) The inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 may be a projecting anddepressed surface on which projections and depressions are arranged inthe stacking direction. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 69 , FIG.70A and FIG. 70B, blanked members W3 having a notch 7 a at the innerperipheral surface of the slot 7 (the inner peripheral edge of the yokeportion 4 and/or the peripheral edge of the tooth portion 5 that formsthe slot 7) and blanked members W1 not having a notch 7 a may be stackedtogether to form a stack 2. In this case, since the resin portion 3 isalso provided in the notch 7 a, the adherence of the resin portion 3 tothe inner peripheral surface F2 of the slot 7 is enhanced. This cansuppress separation of the resin portion 3 from the stack 2. Asillustrated in FIG. 70A, the notch 7 a may be partially provided on theinner peripheral surface of the slot 7. As illustrated in FIG. 70B, thenotch 7 a may be provided over almost the entire inner peripheralsurface of the slot 7. In FIG. 70B, a blanked member W1 is also depictedby a dashed-dotted line in order to facilitate understanding of thestacked state of blanked members W1 and W3.

As illustrated in FIGS. 71A and 71B, an odd-shape portion 7 b may beprovided instead of the notch 7 a at the inner peripheral edge of theyoke portion 4 and/or the peripheral edge of the tooth portion 5 thatforms the slot 7 in the blanked member W3. Specifically, in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 71A, the odd-shape portion 7 b has a triangularshape in cross section. In the manner illustrated in FIG. 71B, theodd-shape portion 7 b has a cross-sectional shape thinner than the otherregion. These odd-shape portions 7 b may be formed, for example, bycoining. As illustrated in FIGS. 72A and 72B, the stack 2 may be formedby stacking only the blanked members W3 having the odd-shape portions 7b.

59) A mold core member 260A configured to expand or shrink in the slot 7may be used. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 73 , the mold coremember 260A may be vertically divided into two parts and these parts maybe connected by an elastic member 260 f. In this configuration, theparts of the mold core member 260A are biased so as to come closer toeach other by the elastic member 260 f. The elastic member 260 f may be,for example, a compression coil spring. A depression 260 g is providedon each of the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the moldcore member 260A. The depression 260 g has the diameter decreasingtoward the bottom wall.

Referring now to FIG. 73 to FIG. 75 , the process of forming the resinportion 3 using such a mold core member 260A is described. First of all,as illustrated in FIG. 73 , the guide shaft 220, the positioning block230A, the positioning pin 230B, the plate 240, the diameter increaser250, the stack 2 with the main portion 3 a provided in the slot 7, theplate 240, the mold core member 260A, the plate 270, the plate 280, andan upper die 290A are attached in a predetermined order on a lower die210C. The mold core member 260A is thus disposed in the slot 7. Here,the lower die 210C differs from the lower die 210 according to theforegoing examples in that the through hole 216 is provided at aposition corresponding to the mold core member 260A. The upper die 290Adiffers from the upper die 290 according to the foregoing examples inthat the through hole 294 is provided at a position corresponding to themold core member 260A.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 74 , the plunger 217 is inserted from thethrough hole 216, and the plunger 295 is inserted from the through hole294. The tip end portions of the plungers 217 and 295 has the diameterdecreasing toward the tip end. In this configuration, when the tip endportion of the plunger 217 is inserted into the depression 260 g in theupper end surface of the mold core member 260A, and the tip end portionof the plunger 293 is inserted into the depression 260 g in the lowerend surface of the mold core member 260A, the parts of the mold coremember 260A come apart from each other against the biasing force by theelastic member 260 f. In this state, melted resin is charged into thefilling space V1 and the auxiliary space V2.

When melted resin is solidified to form the resin portion 3 in thefilling space V1 and the auxiliary space V2, the plungers 217 and 295are pulled out from the through holes 216 and 294 as illustrated in FIG.75 . The parts of the mold core member 260A are then pulled together bythe elastic member 260 f. The mold core member 260A thus comes apartfrom the resin portion 3. Accordingly, the mold core member 260A iseasily inserted into/pulled out from the slot 7.

60) The plurality of through holes 292 in each of which the resin pelletP and the plunger 293 can be disposed is provided in the upper die 290.When melted resin is to be charged into the filling spaces V1 of all ofthe slots 7 at a time, the size of the resin filling device 200 tends tobe increased as a whole. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 76 , the resinpellet P and the plunger 293 may be disposed in some of the plurality ofthrough holes 292, and melted resin may be charged into the fillingspaces V1 of the corresponding slots 7. Subsequently, turning or movingat least one of the stack 2 side and the plunger 293 side and chargingmelted resin into the filling spaces V1 of the remaining slots 7 fromother through holes 292 may be repeated. In this case, melted resin onlyhas to be charged into the filling spaces V1 in some slots 7, so thatthe size of the resin filling device 200 can be reduced.

61) As illustrated in FIG. 77 , a mold core member 260 smaller than thestacking height of the stack 2 may be used. Referring to FIG. 77 andFIG. 78 , the process of forming the resin portion 3 using such a moldcore member 260 in this case is described. First of all, as illustratedin FIG. 77 , the guide shaft 220, the positioning block 230A, thepositioning pin 230B, the plate 240, the diameter increaser 250, thestack 2 with the main portion 3 a provided in the slot 7, the plate 240,the mold core member 260, the plate 270C, the plate 280A, and the upperdie 290 are attached in a predetermined order on the lower die 210C. Themold core member 260 is thus disposed at the lower portion in the slot7.

Here, the lower die 210C differs from the lower die 210 according to theforegoing examples in that the through hole 216 is provided at aposition corresponding to the mold core member 260. A holding member 276holding the mold core member 260 may be provided on the lower surface ofthe plate 270C at a position corresponding to the slot 7. The holdingmember 276 has a shape corresponding to the slot 7 to hold the mold coremember 260 with the lower die 210 in a state in which the mold coremember 260 is inserted in the insertion hole 214 of the lower die 210.The lower die 210 and the holding member 276 have a through hole 270 bconfigured to pass through them and communicatively connect the throughhole 285 with the filling space V1. Here, the plate 280A differs fromthe plate 280 according to the foregoing examples in that the throughhole 284 is not provided at a position corresponding to the mold coremember 260.

Next, one resin pellet P and one plunger 293 are disposed in each of theplurality of through holes 292, and melted resin is charged into afilling space V1 a (the lower portion of the filling space V1), which isa space surrounded by the lower die 210, the mold core member 260, theholding member 276, and the slot 7, and the auxiliary space V2 below,through the through holes 285 and 270 b.

Next, the plates 270C and 280A and the upper die 290 are removed fromthe stack 2, and instead of these, the plates 270D and 270A and theupper die 290 are attached to the stack 2 as illustrated in FIG. 78 .Next, the plunger 217 is inserted from the through hole 216, and themold core member 260 is pushed up until the upper end of the mold coremember 260 comes into abutment with the plate 270D. In this state, oneresin pellet P and one plunger 293 are disposed in each of the pluralityof through holes 292 again, and melted resin is charged into a fillingspace V1 b (the upper portion of the filling space V1), which is a spacesurrounded by the resin portion 3 already formed in the lower portion ofthe slot 7, the plate 270D, the mold core member 260, and the slot 7,and the auxiliary space V2 above, through the through holes 285 and 270b. The stacked stator core 1 in which the resin portion 3 is provided onthe inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 of the stack 2 is thuscompleted.

According to the above, melted resin is partially charged in the fillingspaces V1 a and V1 b in the stacking direction. In this configuration,the filling property of melted resin in the filling space V1 can beenhanced compared with when melted resin is charged into the fillingspace V1 at a time. In the foregoing description, the charging of meltedresin into the filling space V1 is performed twice. However, thecharging of melted resin into the filling space V1 may be performedthree or more times. When the charging of melted resin into the fillingspace V1 is performed multiple times, melted resin charged into onefilling space V1 may be of the same kind or may be of different kinds.

62) As illustrated in FIG. 79 and FIG. 80 , an intermediate plate 800may be interposed between the plate 270 and the upper die 290.Specifically, the intermediate plate 800 has a plurality of throughholes 801, a plurality of through holes 802, and a plurality of throughholes 803. The through hole 801 is provided at a position correspondingto the insertion hole 291 of the upper die 290. The through hole 802 isprovided at a position corresponding to the insertion hole 292 of theupper die 290. The through hole 803 is provided at a positioncorresponding to the mold core member 260. Accordingly, as illustratedin FIG. 79 , when a stack 2 with a relatively large stacking height isinstalled in the resin filling device 200, the upper end of the guideshaft 220 is positioned in the through hole 801 of the intermediateplate 800, and the upper end of the mold core member 260 is positionedin the through hole 285 of the plate 280. On the other hand, asillustrated in FIG. 80 , when a stack 2 with a relatively small stackingheight is installed in the resin filling device 200, the upper end ofthe guide shaft 220 is positioned in the insertion hole 291 of the upperdie 290, and the upper end of the mold core member 260 is positioned inthe through hole 803 of the intermediate plate 800.

As described above, the through holes 801 and 803 of the intermediateplate 800 function as escape portions through which the guide shaft 220and the mold core member 260 can pass, respectively. In this case,stacks 2 having different stacking heights can be handled by one resinfilling device. In FIG. 79 and FIG. 80 , the positioning pin 230B aswell as the insertion hole 213 and the through holes 243 and 273receiving the positioning pin 230B are not illustrated. Instead of theintermediate plate 800 illustrated in FIG. 79 and FIG. 80 , thethickness of the plate 270, 280 or the upper die 290 may be increased,and an escape portion (for example, insertion hole, through hole)through which the guide shaft 220 or the mold core member 260 can passmay be provided in the plate 270, 280 or the upper die 290.

63) A resin injection channel FP extending in the stacking direction maybe provided between the outer peripheral surface of the mold core member260 and the inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7. The channel resistanceto melted resin of the resin injection channel FP is set to be smallerthan that of the filling space V1. In this case, melted resin flows fromthe resin injection channel FP to the filling space V1 in the increasingorder of channel resistance. That is, melted resin fills in the resininjection channel FP extending in the stacking direction and then fillsin the filling space V1 in the direction crossing the stacking directionfrom the resin injection channel FP toward the filling space V1. In thisconfiguration, the entire filling space V1 can be filled with meltedresin more effectively, compared with when there is no resin injectionchannel FP. The resin injection channel FP may extend from one endsurface to the other end surface of the stack 2.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 81A, the resin injection channel FPmay be a depressed groove provided on the inner peripheral surface ofthe yoke portion 4 in the inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 81B, the resin injection channel FP maybe a depressed groove provided on the side surface of the tooth portion5 in the inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7. As illustrated in FIG.82A, the resin injection channel FP may be, for example, a spaceprovided between the inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 and the moldcore member 260. As illustrated in FIG. 82B, the resin injection channelFP may be, for example, a depressed groove provided on the outerperipheral surface of the mold core member 260. The number and the shapeof resin injection channels FP are not limited. In FIG. 81A, FIG. 81B,FIG. 82A and FIG. 82B, when the distance between the outer peripheralsurface of the mold core member 260 and the inner wall surface F2 of theslot 7 is, for example, approximately 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, the width of theresin injection channel FP may be, for example, approximately 0.7 mm to0.9 mm.

64) As illustrated in FIGS. 83A and 83B, the diameter increasing member251 and the mold core member 260 may be integrated. In this case, acoupling portion 255 that integrally couples the diameter-increasingmember 251 and the mold core member 260 has a width equivalent to theopening 8 of the slot 7 and closes the opening 8. When the stack 2 isattached to the resin filling device 200, as illustrated in FIG. 83A,each mold core member 260 is inserted into the corresponding slot 7 andthe coupling portion 255 is disposed in the opening 8 in a state inwhich the diameter-increasing members 251 as a whole come closer to thecenter of the lower die 210. Next, as illustrated in FIG. 83B, with theopening 8 kept closed by the coupling portion 255, thediameter-increasing member 251 moves outward in the radial direction ofthe stack 2, and the outer peripheral surface of the diameter-increasingmember 251 comes into abutment with the inner peripheral surface of thethrough hole 2 a of the stack 2.

65) The mold core member 260 may be integrated with a member of theresin filling device 200 that holds the stack 2 (in the foregoingexamples, for example, the lower die 210, the plates 240, 270, 280, orthe upper die 290). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 84 , the moldcore member 260 may be divided into two parts 269, one of the parts 269may be integrated with the lower die 210, and the other part 269 may beintegrated with the upper die 290. In this configuration, when the stack2 is installed in the resin filling device 200, the part 269 integratedwith the lower die 210 and the part 269 integrated with the upper die290 abut on each other in the slot 7 to constitute the mold core member260.

66) Although not illustrated in the figures, the diameter-increasingmember 251, the mold core member 260, and the member of the resinfilling device 200 that holds the stack 2 may be integrated.

67) Although not illustrated in the figures, a portion of the auxiliaryspace V2 that faces the end surface F3 of the yoke portion 4 may behigher than the remaining portion of the auxiliary space V2 that facesthe end surface F3 of the yoke portion 4 and extend along thecircumferential direction. In this case, when melted resin is chargedinto the auxiliary space V2, a resin wall portion with a larger heightand extending in the circumferential direction is formed correspondingto the portion of the auxiliary space V2 on the end surface F3 of theyoke portion 4. When a winding coil is wound around a set of some of thetooth portions 5 (this is called distributed winding), the winding coilexiting from one slot 7 extends toward the yoke portion 4, creeps on theyoke portion 4, and then extends toward another slot 7 not adjacent tothe one slot 7. In this case, when the resin wall portion is formed onthe end surface F3 of the yoke portion 4 as described above, the resinwall portion can be used as a guide for the winding coil in thedistributed winding. Accordingly, the winding coil can be effectivelyattached to the stacked stator core 1. The resin wall portion may beannular on the end surface F3 or may not extend continuously in thecircumferential direction (may have an arc shape).

As illustrated in FIG. 85 , the resin portion 3 may have a pair of notchgrooves 3 d facing each other in the slot 7 and extending in thestacking direction. In this case, an insulating member such asinsulating paper can be attached to a pair of notch grooves 3 d. In thisconfiguration, as illustrated in FIG. 85 , the resin portion 3 is notnecessarily provided on the inner peripheral surface of the yoke portion4, of the inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7.

68) When melted resin is charged into the filling space V1, melted resinwith a low flowability may be charged into the filling space V1 on thetip end side of the tooth portion 5, and melted resin with a highflowability may be charged into the filling space V1 on the base endside of the tooth portion 5. In this case, leakage of melted resin fromthe opening 8 of the slot 7 can be suppressed, and the filling propertyof melted resin into the filling space V1 can be enhanced on the baseend side of the tooth portion 5.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 86 , in a state in which a resinpellet P3 heated to a relatively low temperature is disposed in thethrough hole 292 provided on the tip end side of the tooth portion 5while a resin pellet P4 heated to a relatively high temperature isdisposed in the through hole 292 provided on the base end side of thetooth portion 5, these resin pellets P3 and P4 may be melted and pushedout by the plungers 293 into the filling space V1. When the resin isheated to a relatively low temperature, the reaction relatively lessproceeds, so that the flowability is low (the viscosity is high) and thecuring speed is slow. On the other hand, when the resin is heated to arelatively high temperature, the reaction relatively well proceeds, sothat the flowability is high (viscosity is low) and the curing speed isfast. In this configuration, melted resin in a low flowability state canbe charged into the filling space V1 on the tip end side of the toothportion 5, while melted resin in a high flowability state can be chargedinto the filling space V1 on the base end side of the tooth portion 5.The temperature difference between the resin pellet P3 at a relativelylow temperature and the resin pellet P4 at a relatively high temperaturemay be approximately 20° C. The heating temperature of the resin pelletP3 may be approximately, for example, 40° C. to 60° C., and the heatingtemperature of the resin pellet P4 may be approximately, for example,60° C. to 80° C. Three or more resin pellets heated to differenttemperatures may be used.

For example, the characteristics of the resin pellet P3 disposed in thethrough hole 292 provided on the tip end side of the tooth portion 5 maybe different from the characteristics of the resin pellet P4 disposed inthe through hole 292 provided on the base end side of the tooth portion5. That is, the flowability when the resin pellet P3 becomes meltedresin may be lower than the flowability when the resin pellet P4 becomesmelted resin, depending on the kind of resin forming the resin pelletsP3 and P4 and the kind of filler contained in the resin pellets P3 andP4.

For example, the tooth portion 5 or the mold core member 260 may beheated such that the temperature of the tip end side of the toothportion 5 is lower than the temperature of the base end portion of thetooth portion 5. Also in this case, the reaction of melted resin chargedin the filling space V1 relatively less proceeds and the flowability islow on the tip end side of the tooth portion 5, while the reactionrelatively well proceeds and the flowability is high on the base endside of the tooth portion 5.

In order to set the tooth portion 5 or the mold core member 260 topartially different temperatures in the extending direction of the toothportion 5, two or more different independent heaters may be provided inthe lower die 210 and/or upper die 290. These heaters may be annular andmay be disposed concentrically so as to be arranged along the extendingdirection of the tooth portion 5. The temperature of the heaterpositioned on the tip end side of the tooth portion 5 is set to a lowertemperature, and the temperature of the heater positioned on the baseend side of the tooth portion 5 is set to a higher temperature.

In order to set the tooth portion 5 or the mold core member 260 topartially different temperatures in the extending direction of the toothportion 5, two or more different independent heaters may be provided inthe inside of the mold core member 260. These heaters may be arranged inthe radial direction of the tooth portion 5. The temperature of theheater positioned on the tip end side of the tooth portion 5 is set to alower temperature, and the temperature of the heater positioned on thebase end side of the tooth portion 5 is set to a higher temperature.

69) When melted resin is charged into the filling space V1, melted resinin a high flowability state may be charged into the filling space V1after melted resin in a low flowability state is charged into thefilling space V1. In this case, melted resin in a low flowability stateis charged into the filling space V1 on the opposite side to themelted-resin charging port. This configuration can suppress leakage ofmelted resin from the opposite side to the charging port. On the otherhand, melted resin in a high flowability state is charged on thecharging port side. This can enhance the filling property of meltedresin on the charging port side.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 87 , in a state in which the resinpellet P3 heated to a relatively low temperature and the resin pellet P4heated to a relatively high temperature are disposed in the through hole292 such that the resin pellet P3 is positioned closer to the fillingspace V1 than the resin pellet P4, these resin pellets P3 and P4 aremelted and pushed out by the plunger 293 into the filling space V1. Whenthe resin is heated to a relatively low temperature, the reactionrelatively less proceeds, so that the flowability is low (the viscosityis high) and the curing speed is slow. On the other hand, when the resinis heated to a relatively high temperature, the reaction relatively wellproceeds, so that the flowability is high (viscosity is low) and thecuring speed is fast. In this configuration, melted resin in a highflowability state can be charged into the filling space V1 after meltedresin in a low flowability state is charged into the filling space V1.The temperature difference between the resin pellet P3 at a relativelylow temperature and the resin pellet P4 at a relatively high temperaturemay be approximately 20° C. The heating temperature of the resin pelletP3 may be approximately, for example, 40° C. to 60° C., and the heatingtemperature of the resin pellet P4 may be approximately, for example,60° C. to 80° C. Three or more resin pellets heated to differenttemperatures may be used.

For example, the characteristics of the resin pellets P3 and P4 disposedin one through hole 292 may be different. That is, the flowability whenthe resin pellet P3 becomes melted resin may be lower than theflowability when the resin pellet P4 becomes melted resin, depending onthe kind of resin forming the resin pellets P3 and P4 and the kind offiller contained in the resin pellets P3 and P4.

For example, the tooth portion 5 or the mold core member 260 may beheated such that the temperature of the tooth portion 5 on the oppositeside to the melted-resin charging port is lower than the temperature onthe charging port side. Also in this case, the reaction of melted resincharged in the filling space V1 relatively less proceeds and theflowability is low on the opposite side to the charging port, while thereaction relatively well proceeds and the flowability is high on thecharging port side.

In order to set the tooth portion 5 or the mold core member 260 topartially different temperatures in the stacking direction, differentindependent heaters may be provided in the lower die 210 and the upperdie 290. When melted resin is charged from the upper die 290 side, thetemperature of the heater positioned in the lower die 210 is set to alower temperature, and the temperature of the heater positioned in theupper die 290 is set to a higher temperature.

In order to set the tooth portion 5 or the mold core member 260 topartially different temperatures in the stacking direction, two or moredifferent independent heaters may be provided in the inside of the moldcore member 260. These heaters may be arranged in the stackingdirection. When melted resin is charged from the upper die 290 side, thetemperature of the heater positioned on the lower die 210 side is set toa lower temperature, and the temperature of the heater positioned on theupper die 290 side is set to a higher temperature.

70) As illustrated in FIG. 88 , a resin channel 260 h extending throughthe end surface and the side surface of the mold core member 260 may beprovided in the mold core member 260. In this case, melted resin may becharged into the filling space V1 through the resin channel 260 h in themold core member 260. In this case, since melted resin is directlyinjected at a midpoint of the filling space, the filling property ofmelted resin into the filling space V1 can be enhanced. As illustratedin FIG. 88 , when the mold core member 260 is configured to be dividedat the position of the resin channel 260 h, the hardened product (called“cull”) of melted resin left in the resin channel 260 h is easilyremoved.

71) The kinds of melted resin charged into the filling spaces V1 may beall the same or may be different according to the filling spaces V1.

72) Melted resin may be charged into each filling space V1 from thelower die 210 side, may be charged from the upper die 290 side, or maybe charged from both the lower die 210 side and the upper die 290 side.

73) Although not illustrated in the figures, the tooth portion 5 may besplit into multiple parts. For example, a bifurcate tooth portion 5 maybe provided for the yoke portion 4. In this case, the resin portion 3may be provided in a gap split in the tooth portion 5.

74) Although not illustrated in the figures, a heater for heating themold core member 260 may be connected to the mold core member 260. Inthis case, the mold core member 260 is heated by the heater beforemelted resin is charged into the filling space V1, whereby the mold coremember 260 thermally expands, and the mold core member 260 can close theopening 8 more reliably. This configuration can suppress leakage ofmelted resin from the opening 8 more. Since heating the mold core member260 allows melted resin to be heated, the flowability of melted resincan be enhanced. On the other hand, heating of the mold core member 260is stopped after charging melted resin into the filling space V1,whereby the mold core member 260 shrinks to return to the originalshape, and a gap can be formed between the resin portion 3 provided onthe inner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 and the mold core member 260. Inthis configuration, the mold core member 260 can be easily inserted intoand removed from the slot 7. The mold core member 260 may be heated, forexample, by heating the mold core member 260 by a heater or bycirculating a heated fluid through a channel provided in the mold coremember 260.

75) The stacked stator core 1 may be produced by obtaining a work havingthe resin portion 3 in the slot 7 of a block in which a plurality ofblanked members W are stacked, and thereafter stacking and integrating aplurality of works.

76) All of the mold core members 260 may be inserted/removed from abovethe slots 7, or all of the mold core members 260 may be inserted/removedfrom below the slots 7. Alternatively, some of the mold core members 260may be inserted/removed from above the slots, and the remaining moldcore members 260 may be inserted/removed from below the slots 7. In thiscase, since the load (friction resistance) produced in the stack 2 isdistributed between the upper end surface side and the lower end surfaceside of the stack 2 when the mold core members 260 are inserted into theslots 7, the mold core members 260 are easily inserted into the slots 7and the mold core members 260 are easily removed from the slot 7.

77) In the manner described above, the opening 8 is not closed by theresin portion 3. However, the present invention is similarly applicableto the manner in which the opening 8 is closed by the resin portion 3.For example, as illustrated in FIG. 89 and FIG. 90 , the opening 8 maybe closed by a closing portion 3 c of the resin portion 3. The closingportion 3 c is formed integrally with the main portion 3 a and the endportion 3 b.

Here, in order to produce the stacked stator core 1 with the opening 8closed by the resin portion 3, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 91 ,melted resin is charged into the filling space V1 in a state in whichthe mold core member 260 disposed in the slot 7 is spaced apart from theinner wall surface F2 of the slot 7 and all the openings 8 are closed bya closing member 600 disposed in the through hole 2 a. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 64 , the closing member 600 may be a cylindricalbody having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameterof the stack 2 (tooth portion 5). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 92, the closing member 600 may have a ridge 601 corresponding to eachopening 8 on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical closing member600. In this case, since each opening 8 is closed by the correspondingridge 601, leakage of melted resin from the opening 8 can be suppressed.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 93 , the closing member 600 may beconfigured with a plurality of column-shaped bodies 602. Thecolumn-shaped body 602 may be shaped like a cylinder, may be shaped likea rectangular prism, or may be shaped like a column having any othercross-sectional shapes. When the opening 8 is closed by the closingmember 600, one column-shaped body 602 is disposed for the correspondingopening 8. As illustrated in FIG. 94 , the adjacent column-shaped bodies602 may be connected by a connecting member 603. In this case, all ofthe column-shaped bodies 602 are connected by the connecting member 603,and the column-shaped bodies 602 may be annular as a whole.Alternatively, not all but some of the column-shaped bodies 602 may beconnected by the connecting member 603. Although not illustrated in thefigures, the diameter increaser 250 may be used as the closing member600, and the opening 8 may be closed by the outer peripheral surface ofthe diameter-increasing member 251.

Although FIG. 91 to FIG. 94 depict the closing member 600 completelyabutting on the openings 8, a minute gap (for example, a gap ofapproximately a few tens of μm) may exist between the opening 8 and theclosing member 600.

Additional Examples

An example method of manufacturing a stacked stator core may include afirst step of obtaining a stack configured such that a plurality of coremembers are stacked, the stack including an annular yoke portion and aplurality of tooth portions extending from the yoke portion in acrossing direction crossing the yoke portion. The method may furtherinclude a second step of inserting a mold core member into each of aplurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots being a space formedbetween adjacent two of the plurality of tooth portions in acircumferential direction of the yoke portion. Additionally, the methodmay include a third step of forming a resin portion by charging meltedresin into a filling space between the slot and the mold core member. Inthe second step, the body portion of the mold core member may extendalong the extending direction of the slot and may be spaced apart fromthe inner wall surface of the slot. In the second step, a closingportion of the mold core member may be positioned on a slot opening sideand may close an open end portion of the slot on the slot opening side,the closing portion being connected to the body portion.

In some examples, even when melted resin flows around the mold coremember, the shape of the mold core member is not deformed. Therefore,melted resin hardly leaks out of the slot opening. Thus, when meltedresin is charged into the filling space between the slot and the moldcore member in the third step, the resin portion is formed in a regionof the inner wall surface of the slot, the region facing the bodyportion of the mold core member. On the other hand, the resin portion isnot formed outside the slot opening side. As a result, the air gapbetween the inner peripheral surface of the stack and the outerperipheral surface of the rotor can be kept at a predetermined size.Since the closing portion of the mold core member exists at the open endportion in the third step of charging melted resin into the fillingspace, the open end portion is not filled with melted resin. That is,the resin portion formed on the inner wall surface of the slot does notclose the open end portion. In this configuration, since the slotopening is kept open, a winding coil can be attached to the toothportion, for example, using a general coil winder with no need for aspecial material and apparatus. The winding operation thus can beperformed at low cost while the insulation between the winding coil andthe stack is ensured by the resin portion. Furthermore, when meltedresin is charged into the filling space between the slot and the moldcore member in the third step, melted resin slightly intrudes into thegap between the plurality of core members stacked. In thisconfiguration, melted resin is cured whereby the core members are joinedto each other through the resin. The expansion of the core members inthe stacking direction thus can be suppressed.

In some examples, in the second step, the closing portion may abut onthe inner wall surface of the open end portion. In this case, the resinportion is not formed on the inner wall surface of the slot on the openend portion side. This configuration can further suppress leakage ofmelted resin out of the slot opening.

In some examples, in the second step, the closing portion may abut onthe inner wall surface of the open end portion in a region of the slotinside the slot opening. Even when the mold core member abuts on theinner wall surface of the slot, a minute gap (for example, a gap ofapproximately a few tens of μm) exists when viewed microscopically.Melted resin may penetrate the gap by capillarity to cause burrs.However, with the method described in the third section, the mold coremember does not abut in a region of the inner wall surface of the slotfrom the slot opening to the open end portion. With this configuration,the end point of the minute gap in which capillarity may occur exists atthe slot inside the slot opening. Therefore, even if melted resinpenetrates the gap, burrs are less likely to be formed outside the slotopening.

In some examples, the inner wall surface of the open end portion mayinclude a first inclined surface inclined relative to the extendingdirection of the tooth portion, the closing portion may include a secondinclined surface corresponding to the first inclined surface, and thefirst inclined surface of the opening end portion and the secondinclined surface of the closing portion may abut on each other. In thiscase, the contact area between the mold core member and the open endportion is increased. With this configuration, the open end portion isclosed more securely by the closing portion of the mold core member.Leakage of melted resin out of the slot opening thus can be furthersuppressed. Melted resin penetrates the minute gap by capillarity toreach the end point of the gap and thereafter develops so as to extendalong the extending direction of the first and second inclined surfaces.With this configuration, burrs are unlikely to adhere to the inner wallsurface of the slot on the slot opening side. Burrs, if any, thus can beremoved easily.

In some examples, the open end portion may protrude in thecircumferential direction relative to a base end portion of the toothportion on the yoke portion side. In this case, when viewed from theslot opening side, the resin portion formed on the inner wall surface ofthe slot is protected by the open end portion. With this configuration,for example, when a winding coil is attached to the tooth portion by acoil winder, the resin portion is less likely to be damaged by thewinding coil or the coil winder. Consequently, occurrence of foreignmatters, for example, caused by dropping of the resin portion can besuppressed.

An example method may further include a fourth step of sandwiching thestack between a pair of holding plates in the stacking direction, afterthe first step and before the third step. The pair of holding plates mayinclude an auxiliary space communicatively connected with the fillingspace in a region facing the filling space. In the third step, meltedresin may be charged into the filling space and the auxiliary space toform the resin portion. In this case, in the third step, not only thefilling space but also the auxiliary space of the holding plate isfilled with melted resin. With this configuration, the resin portionprovided on the inner wall surface of the slot protrudes outside the endsurface of the stack. Accordingly, when a winding coil is attached tothe tooth portion, the winding coil is less likely to abut on the endsurface of the stack (tooth portion). Furthermore, since the lineardistance between the winding coil and the tooth portion is increased,surface discharge is less likely to occur between the winding coil andthe tooth portion. In addition, since the resin portion protrudesoutside the end surface of the stack, the state of the core membersentirely fastened by the resin portion is easily kept even when theresin portion is shrunken by heat. This configuration can suppressseparation of the core members positioned on the end surface side of thestack and also can suppress chipping and cracking of the resin portiondue to the separation. If chipping occurs, resin pieces dropping fromthe resin portion scatter in the surroundings as foreign matters,possibly influencing the performance of the motor when the motor isconfigured using the stacked stator core. If cracking occurs, surfacedischarge occurs between the winding coil and the stack in the crackedregion, and electrical continuity may be established between the windingand the stack.

In some examples, the pair of holding plates may be provided with anauxiliary space continuous from a region facing the filling space to aregion facing at least a part of the end surface of the tooth portionadjacent to the filling space. In this case, in the third step, not onlythe filling space but also the auxiliary space of the holding plate isfilled with melted resin. In this configuration, the resin portion isformed on the inner wall surface of the slot and also formed on the endsurface of the tooth portion around the inner wall surface. Accordingly,when a winding coil is attached to the tooth portion, the winding coilis less likely to abut on the end surface of the stack (tooth portion).

In some examples, the pair of holding plates may include an auxiliaryspace continuous from a region facing the filling space to a regionfacing at least a part of the end surface of the tooth portion adjacentto the filling space. The filling space may be positioned to be shiftedfrom the auxiliary space such that the filling space protrudes towardthe slot relative to the auxiliary space. In this case, in the thirdstep, not only the filling space but also the auxiliary space of theholding plate is filled with melted resin. In this configuration, theresin portion is formed on the inner wall surface of the slot and alsoformed on the end surface of the tooth portion around the inner wallsurface. Accordingly, when a winding coil is attached to the toothportion, the winding coil is less likely to abut on the end surface ofthe stack (tooth portion). In this case, the filling space is positionedto be shifted from the auxiliary space such that the filling spaceprotrudes toward the slot relative to the auxiliary space. In thisconfiguration, when melted resin charged into the filling space and theauxiliary space is solidified into a resin portion, a resin main portionof the resin portion in the filling space is disposed to be shifted froma resin end portion of the resin portion in the auxiliary space suchthat the resin main portion protrudes toward the slot relative to theresin end portion. Accordingly, when a winding coil is attached to thetooth portion, the winding coil is easily bent at a stepped portionwhere the resin main portion and the resin end portion are shifted fromeach other, and the diameter of the winding coil wound around the toothportion is reduced. As a result, the coil length is reduced as a whole,so that heat generated in the winding coil can be suppressed and theheight of the stacked stator core after the winding coil is attached canbe reduced as a whole.

In some examples, the pair of holding plates may include a regionpartially abutting on the end surface of the tooth portion. In thiscase, the end surface of the tooth portion includes a covered regioncovered with the resin portion and a non-covered region not covered withthe resin portion. Here, the resin portion is obtained from melted resinat high temperature (for example, approximately 120° C. to 200° C.)which is cooled to room temperature and cured. Since melted resin isshrunken with temperature change from high temperature to roomtemperature, internal stress may remain in the resin portion. When theinternal stress is large, chipping or cracking likely occurs in theresin portion. However, in some examples, since the non-covered regionexists on the end surface of the tooth portion, expansion and shrinkageof the resin portion is alleviated in the non-covered region and theinternal stress is less likely to remain in the resin portion. Thisconfiguration can suppress chipping in the resin portion.

In some examples, the pair of holding plates may include an auxiliaryspace continuous from a region facing the filling space to a regionfacing at least a part of the end surface of the yoke portion adjacentto the filling space. In this case, in the third step, not only thefilling space but also the auxiliary space of the holding plate isfilled with melted resin. In this configuration, the resin portion isformed on the inner wall surface of the slot and also formed on the endsurface of the yoke portion around the inner wall surface. Accordingly,when a winding coil is attached to the tooth portion, the winding coilis less likely to abut on the end surface of the stack (yoke portion).

In some examples, the auxiliary space may include a portion that facesthe end surface of the yoke portion and extends annularly along thecircumferential direction. In this case, since the end surface of theyoke portion is covered with the resin portion in a wider range, thewinding coil is even less likely to abut on the end surface of the stack(yoke portion).

In some examples, the auxiliary space may include a first portion and asecond portion. The first portion may face the end surface of the yokeportion, be higher than the second portion, and extend along thecircumferential direction. The second portion may face the end surfaceof the yoke portion. In this case, when melted resin is charged into theauxiliary space, a resin wall portion that is tall and extends in thecircumferential direction is formed on the end surface of the yokeportion so as to correspond to the first portion of the auxiliary space.When a winding coil is wound around a set of a plurality of toothportions (in the case of distributed winding), the winding coil exitingfrom one slot extends toward the yoke portion, creeps on the yokeportion, and then extends toward another slot not adjacent to the oneslot. In this configuration, when the resin wall portion is formed onthe end surface of the yoke portion, the resin wall portion can be usedas a guide for the winding coil in the distributed winding. The windingcoil therefore can be effectively attached to the stacked stator core.

In some examples, the end surface of the stack may include a portionthat faces the auxiliary space and is roughed or depressed relative tothe other portion of the end surface of the stack. In this case, theadherence of the resin portion to the end surface of the stack isincreased. This can suppress separation of the resin portion from thestack.

In some examples, the corner of a depressed groove that forms theauxiliary space may have a rounded cross-sectional shape or may beinclined relative to a bottom wall surface and a side wall surface ofthe depressed groove. In this case, the corner portion of the resinportion extends from the inner wall surface of the slot around the endsurface of the stack and is chamfered or filleted. In thisconfiguration, when a winding coil is attached to the tooth portion, thewinding coil is easily wound along the outer shape of the resin portion.This configuration reduces stress acting on the resin portion from thewinding coil and thus can suppress, for example, chipping and crackingin the resin portion.

In some examples, the width of the tooth portion may be reduced and/orthe inner diameter of the yoke portion may be increased toward both endsurfaces of the stack in the stacking direction. In this case, thecorner of the tooth portion on the slot side and/or the corner of theyoke portion on the slot side is inclined. In this configuration, thethickness of the portion of the resin portion, the portion of the resinportion extending from the inner wall surface of the slot around the endsurface of the stack, is easily ensured. Cracking in this portion of theresin portion thus can be suppressed. When a winding coil is attached tothe tooth portion, this portion of the resin portion can suppressdielectric breakdown between the winding coil and the tooth portionand/or the yoke portion.

An example method may further include a fifth step of applying a load tothe stack in the stacking direction through the pair of holding platessuch that the stacking height of the stack achieves a predeterminedtarget stacking height, in a state in which the stack is sandwichedbetween the pair of holding plates in the stacking direction, after thefirst step and before the third step. The thickness of each core memberthat constitutes a stack is not always the same. Thus, if the resinportion is formed in the slots and a plurality of core members arefastened by the resin portion, with a constant load applied on anystack, the height may vary among stacked stator cores. However, in someexamples, a load is applied to a stack such that the stacking height ofthe stack achieves a predetermined target stacking height. With thisconfiguration, the heights of resulting stacked stator cores aresubstantially the same. A stacked stator core having a desired size asdesigned thus can be obtained.

In some examples, in the fifth step, a stopper member having a height ofa target stacking height may be disposed between the pair of holdingplates, and a load may be applied to the stack in the stacking directionthrough the pair of holding plates such that the pair of holding platesabut on the stopper member, in a state in which the pair of holdingplates sandwich the stack and the stopper member together in thestacking direction. In this case, the stacking height of the stack canbe easily matched with the target stacking height by the stopper.

In some examples, a thermal expansion coefficient of at least one of thepair of holding plates may be higher than a thermal expansioncoefficient of the stack. In this case, since the holding plates and thestack are heated when melted resin is charged into the filling space,the holding plates expand more than the stack. The stack is thereforepressed by the pair of holding plates. Accordingly, leakage of meltedresin charged in the filling space from the gap between the holdingplates and the stack can be suppressed.

In some examples, at least one of the pair of holding plates may includean escape portion through which each mold core member can pass, at aposition corresponding to each mold core member, in order that stackswith different stacking heights can be sandwiched in the pair of holdingplates. In this case, when the stacking height of the stack isrelatively large, the mold core member hardly or never passes throughthe escape portion, but when the stacking height of the stack isrelatively small, the end of the mold core member passes through theescape portion. With this configuration, the stacking height of thestack that can be sandwiched by the pair of holding plates can vary in awide range. Accordingly, stacks having different stacking heights can behandled by one resin filling device.

In some examples, a thermal expansion coefficient of the mold coremember may be higher than a thermal expansion coefficient of the stack.In this case, when melted resin is charged into the filling space, themold core member and the stack are heated, so that the mold core memberexpands more than the stack. With this configuration, the open endportion is securely closed by the closing portion of the expanded moldcore member. Leakage of melted resin out of the slot opening thus can befurther suppressed.

In some examples, the surface of the mold core member may be subjectedto mold-release treatment. In this case, the mold core member can beeasily removed from the slot after melted resin is charged in thefilling space and solidified.

In some examples, the mold core member may include a channel throughwhich a refrigerant circulates. In this case, a cooling medium iscirculated through the channel after charging melted resin into thefilling space, whereby the volume of the mold core member is reduced tofacilitate removal of the mold core member from the slot of the stack.This configuration reduces the time required for removing the mold coremember from the slot of the stack and thus can improve productivity ofstacked stator cores.

In some examples, the thermal conductivity of at least a portion aroundthe channel in the mold core member may be higher than the thermalconductivity of the stack. In this case, the shrinkage of the mold coremember is accelerated, so that the mold core member can be removed fromthe stack even more easily.

An example method may further include a sixth step of applying voltagebetween the mold core member and the stack to test the insulation of theresin portion, after the third step. In this case, the mold core membernot only has the function of forming a filling space between the moldcore member and the stack but also functions as an element forinsulation testing. This eliminates, for example, the need for theoperation of removing the mold core and inserting another testing memberinto the slot for insulation testing. The insulation testing thus can beperformed efficiently.

An example method may further include: a seventh step of aligning, inthe circumferential direction, a plurality of diameter-increasingmembers configured to be movable in the crossing direction and disposingthe plurality of diameter-increasing members inside the yoke portion,after the first step and before the third step; and an eighth step ofmoving each diameter-increasing member toward the tooth portion so thatthe outer peripheral surface of each diameter-increasing member contactson the inner peripheral surface of the stack to apply an outward forcein the crossing direction to the stack, after the seventh step. In thiscase, melted resin is charged into the filling space in a state in whichthe shape of the stack is kept by the diameter-increasing member. Thiscan suppress deformation of the stack by heat of melted resin.Accordingly, a stacked stator core is produced in a desired shape asdesigned and, therefore, the motor formed with the stacked stator corecan achieve improved performance.

In some examples, at least the outer peripheral surface of eachdiameter-increasing member may be formed with an elastic material. Inthis case, when the outer peripheral surface of the diameter-increasingmember abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the stack, the outerperipheral surface of the diameter-increasing member is elasticallydeformed. In this configuration, even when a plurality of stacks vary insize, the variation in size of the stacks can be absorbed by thediameter-increasing members.

An example method may further include a ninth step of bringing aplurality of positioning members into abutment with the outer peripheralsurface of the stack to position the stack, after the first step andbefore the eighth step. In the eighth step, the stack may be sandwichedbetween each diameter-increasing member and each positioning member inthe crossing direction. In this case, deformation of the stack by heatof melted resin can be further suppressed.

In some examples, the positioning member may be positioned to face thediameter-increasing member in the crossing direction. In this case, alarge part of force acting on the stack from the diameter-increasingmember is received by the positioning member at a position facing thediameter-increasing member in the radial direction, thereby suppressingforce contributing to deformation of the stack. This configuration canfurther suppress deformation of the stack by heat of melted resin.

In some examples, in the eighth step, each positioning member may pushthe outer peripheral surface of the stack. In this case, the stack ispushed by the diameter-increasing member radially outward from the innerperipheral surface side and, in addition, the stack is pushed by thepositioning member radially inward from the outer peripheral surfaceside. In this configuration, since the shape of the stack is kept byforce acting from the inside and the outside of the stack, deformationof the stack by heat of melted resin can be further suppressed.

In some examples, in the second step, positioning jigs may be insertedinto at least two slots of a plurality of slots, and the mold coremembers may be inserted into the remaining slots. An example method mayfurther comprising steps of removing the positioning jigs from at leasttwo slots and inserting the mold core members therein, after the thirdstep; and charging melted resin into the filling space between at leasttwo slots and the mold core members to form resin portions, after thethird step. In this case, since the positioning is performed by slots ofthe stack, the accuracy of positioning is extremely increased. With thisconfiguration, melted resin is charged into the filling space in a statein which the shape of the stack is kept by the positioning members.Accordingly, deformation of the stack by heat of melted resin issuppressed. As a result, a stacked stator core is produced in a desiredshape as designed and, therefore, the motor formed with the stackedstator core can achieve improved performance.

In some examples, the mold core member may be formed with a combinationof a plurality of separate pieces divided in at least one of theextending direction of the mold core member and the direction crossingthe extending direction. In this case, a plurality of separate piecesare combined in a slot to form one mold core member. This configurationfacilitates removal of the mold core member from the resin portion,compared with when a one-piece mold core member around which the resinportion has been formed is pulled out from the resin portion.

In some examples, at least a part of the mold core member may have atapered shape with an outer peripheral size decreasing from one end sidetoward the other end side. In this case, the mold core member aroundwhich the resin portion has been formed is easily pulled out from theresin portion.

In some examples, a protective coating may be provided on the peripheralsurface of the mold core member. In this case, wear of the peripheralsurface of the mold core member can be suppressed. Because of thepresence of the protective coating, the mold core member can be easilyreleased from the resin portion.

In some examples, melted resin which is charged into the filling spacein the third step may contain anisotropic filler. In this case,improvement in flowability of the resin (improvement in filling propertyof resin in the filling space) or suppression of leakage of the resinfrom the gap can be achieved, depending on the size of the anisotropicfiller.

In some examples, in the second step, a transportation member having astack placed thereon may be stacked on a base member having a pluralityof mold core members protruding upward, whereby the mold core membersare inserted into the slots of the stack placed on the transportationmember. In this case, a plurality of mold core members can be insertedinto the corresponding slots simultaneously and easily.

In some examples, the base member may be provided with a plurality ofdiameter-increasing members configured to be movable in the crossingdirection. The second step may include: stacking the transportationmember onto the base member, whereby the mold core members are insertedinto the slots of the stack placed on the transportation member and theplurality of diameter-increasing members are disposed inside the yokeportion such that the plurality of diameter-increasing members arealigned in the circumferential direction; and moving eachdiameter-increasing member toward the tooth portion to bring the outerperipheral surface of the diameter-increasing member into abutment withthe inner peripheral surface of the stack, thereby applying an outwardforce in the crossing direction to the stack. In this case, theplurality of mold core members are inserted into the corresponding slotsand at the same time, the plurality of diameter-increasing members aredisposed inside the stack. The mold core member and thediameter-increasing member thus can be disposed on the stack easily andquickly. In this case, melted resin is charged into the filling space ina state in which the shape of the stack is kept by thediameter-increasing member. This can suppress deformation of the stackby heat of melted resin. Accordingly, a stacked stator core is producedin a desired shape as designed and, therefore, the motor formed with thestacked stator core can achieve improved performance.

In some examples, in the third step, the base member on which thetransportation member is stacked in the second step may be transportedto a position different from the stacking position of the transportationmember onto the base member, and thereafter melted resin may be chargedinto the filling space to form the resin portion. If stacking of thetransportation member onto the base member and charging of melted resininto the filling space are performed at the same position, a resinsupply mechanism is disposed above the transportation member moving upand down or above the base member moving up and down, so that the sizeof the resin filling device tends to be increased as a whole. However,in some examples, since stacking of the transportation member onto thebase member and charging of melted resin into the filling space areperformed at different positions, the size of the resin filling devicecan be reduced.

In some examples, a region of the transportation member, the regioncorresponding to the inside of the yoke portion of the stack, may have athrough hole. In this case, when the transportation member is detachedfrom the base member after the resin portion is formed on the inner wallsurface of the slot, the formation state of the resin portion can berecognized not only from above but also from the transportation memberside (below) through the through hole.

In some examples, the inner wall surface of the slot in the stack may bea projecting and depressed surface on which projections and depressionsare arranged in the stacking direction of the stack. In this case, theadherence of the resin portion to the inner peripheral surface of theslot is enhanced. This can suppress separation of the resin portion fromthe stack.

In some examples, the mold core member may be configured to beexpandable and shrinkable in the slot. In this case, the mold coremember disposed in the slot is expanded and the mold core member isreduced after melted resin is charged in the filling space, therebyfacilitating removal of the mold core member from the slot.

In some examples, in the third step, charging melted resin into some ofa plurality of slots may be sequentially repeated to form the resinportions on the inner wall surfaces of all of the slots. When meltedresin is to be charged into the filling spaces of all of the slots at atime, the size of the resin filling device tends to be increased as awhole. However, in some examples, melted resin is sequentially chargedinto the filling spaces of some of the slots, so that the size of theresin filling device can be reduced.

In some examples, in the third step, partially charging melted resininto the filling space may be sequentially repeated in the stackingdirection of the stack to form the resin portion in the entire fillingspace. In this case, melted resin is partially charged in the fillingspace in the stacking direction. In this configuration, the fillingproperty of the melted resin in the filling space can be enhancedcompared with when melted resin is charged into the filling space at atime.

In some examples, in the second step, a resin injection channel may beprovided between the inner wall surface of the slot and the outerperipheral surface of the mold core member. The resin injection channelmay have a smaller channel resistance to melted resin than the fillingspace and extends in the stacking direction of the stack. In the thirdstep, melted resin may be charged into the filling space through theresin injection channel. In this case, in the third step, melted resinflows from the resin injection channel to the filling space inincreasing order of channel resistance. That is, melted resin fills inthe resin injection channel extending in the stacking direction and thenfills in the filling space in the direction crossing the stackingdirection from the resin injection channel toward the filling space.Therefore, the entire filling space can be filled with melted resin moreefficiently, compared with when there is no resin injection channel. Asused in the present disclosure, “channel resistance” refers to energyloss caused by friction acting on melted resin when it flows through thechannel (resin injection channel or filling space).

In some examples, the mold core members may be integrated with at leastone of a pair of holding plates sandwiching the stack in the stackingdirection and/or a plurality of diameter-increasing members disposedinside the stack.

In some examples, the resin portion may have a pair of notch groovesfacing each other in the slot and extending in the stacking direction ofthe stack. In this case, an insulating member such as insulating papercan be attached to a pair of notch grooves.

In some examples, in the third step, melted resin may be charged intothe filling space while the tooth portion or the mold core member isheated such that the temperature of the tip end side of the toothportion is lower than the temperature of the base end side of the toothportion. In this case, the flowability of melted resin on the tip endside of the tooth portion is relatively low. This configuration cansuppress leakage of melted resin from the slot opening. On the otherhand, the flowability of melted resin is relatively high on the base endside of the tooth portion. This can increase the filling property ofmelted resin in the filling space on the base end side of the toothportion.

In some examples, in the third step, melted resin with a relatively lowflowability may be charged into the filling space on the tip end side ofthe tooth portion, and melted resin with a relatively high flowabilitymay be charged into the filling space on the base end side of the toothportion.

In some examples, in the third step, melted resin may be charged intothe filling space while the tooth portion or the mold core member isheated such that the temperature on the other end surface side is lowerthan the temperature on one end surface side of the tooth portion,melted resin being charged from the one end surface side. In this case,the flowability of melted resin on the other end surface side of thetooth portion is relatively low. This can suppress leakage of meltedresin from the opposite side to the melted-resin charging port. On theother hand, the flowability of melted resin is relatively high on oneend surface side of the tooth portion. This can increase the fillingproperty of melted resin in the filling space on the melted-resincharging port side.

In some examples, in the third step, melted resin with a relatively highflowability may be charged after melted resin with a relatively lowflowability is charged into the filling space.

In some examples, in the third step, melted resin may be charged intothe filling space through a resin channel provided in the mold coremember. In this case, since melted resin is directly injected at amidpoint of the filling space, the filling property of melted resin inthe filling space can be enhanced.

In some examples, in the third step, the mold core member may be cooledafter melted resin is charged into the filling space. In this case, thethermally-expanded mold core member is shrunken and therefore the moldcore member is easily pulled out from the slot.

In some examples, in the third step, melted resin may be charged intothe filling space while the mold core member is heated. In this case,the flowability of melted resin injected into the filling space can beincreased.

An example method of manufacturing a stacked stator core may include afirst step of obtaining a stack configured such that a plurality of coremembers are stacked, the stack including an annular yoke portion and aplurality of tooth portions extending from the yoke portion in acrossing direction crossing the yoke portion. The method may furtherinclude a second step of inserting a mold core member into each of aplurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots being a space formedbetween adjacent two of the plurality of tooth portions in acircumferential direction of the yoke portion. The method may stillfurther include a third step of sandwiching the stack between a pair ofholding plates in a stacking direction of the stack, after the firststep. Additionally, the method may include a fourth step of disposing atleast one closing member in a through hole provided at the center of thestack so as to close the slot openings of the slots. Still further, themethod may include a fifth step of charging melted resin into a fillingspace between the slot, the mold core member, and the closing member toform a resin portion, after the second to fourth steps. The pair ofholding plates may be provided with an auxiliary space continuous from aregion facing the filling space to a region facing at least a part of anend surface of a tooth portion adjacent to the filling space. Thefilling space may be positioned to be shifted from the auxiliary spacesuch that the filling space protrudes toward the slot relative to theauxiliary space. In the second step, the mold core member may extendalong the extending direction of the slot and is spaced apart from theinner wall surface of the slot. In the fifth step, melted resin may becharged into the filling space and the auxiliary space to form a resinportion.

In some examples, when melted resin is charged into the filling spacebetween the slot and the mold core member in the third step, meltedresin does not leak from the slot opening because of the presence of theclosing member, and the resin portion is formed on the inner wallsurface of the slot and the slot opening. The air gap between the innerperipheral surface of the stack and the outer peripheral surface of therotor thus can be kept at a predetermined size. In some examples, sincethe slot opening is closed by the resin portion, a winding coil can beattached to the tooth portion using a general insert device by insertinga winding coil wound into a predetermined shape beforehand into the slot(called inserter method). The attachment of winding coil thus can beperformed at low cost while the insulation between the winding coil andthe stack is ensured by the resin portion.

In some examples, in the fifth step, not only the filling space but alsothe auxiliary space of the holding plate is filled with melted resin. Inthis configuration, the resin portion is formed on the inner wallsurface of the slot and also formed on the end surface of the toothportion around the inner wall surface. Accordingly, when a winding coilis attached to the tooth portion, the winding coil is less likely toabut on the end surface of the stack (tooth portion). In some examples,the filling space is positioned to be shifted from the auxiliary spacesuch that the filling space protrudes toward the slot relative to theauxiliary space. In this configuration, when melted resin charged intothe filling space and the auxiliary space is solidified into the resinportion, a resin main portion of the resin portion in the filling spaceis disposed to be shifted from a resin end portion of the resin portionin the auxiliary space such that the resin main portion protrudes towardthe slot relative to the resin end portion. Therefore, when a windingcoil is attached to the tooth portion, the winding coil is easily bentat a stepped portion where the resin main portion and the resin endportion are shifted from each other, and the diameter of the windingcoil wound around the tooth portion is reduced. As a result, the coillength is reduced as a whole, so that heat generated in the winding coilcan be suppressed and the height of the stacked stator core after thewinding coil is attached can be reduced as a whole.

An example method may further include a sixth step of sandwiching thestack in the stacking direction between the pair of holding plates,after the first step and before the fifth step. The pair of holdingplates may include an auxiliary space communicatively connected with thefilling space in a region facing the filling space. In the fifth step,melted resin may be charged into the filling space and the auxiliaryspace to form a resin portion.

In some examples, the pair of holding plates may be provided with anauxiliary space continuous from a region facing the filling space to aregion facing at least a part of the end surface of the tooth portionadjacent to the filling space.

In some examples, the pair of holding plates may include an auxiliaryspace continuous from a region facing the filling space to a regionfacing at least a part of the end surface of the tooth portion adjacentto the filling space. The filling space may be positioned to be shiftedfrom the auxiliary space such that the filling space protrudes towardthe slot relative to the auxiliary space.

In some examples, the pair of holding plates may include a regionpartially abutting on the end surface of the tooth portion.

In some examples, the pair of holding plates may include an auxiliaryspace continuous from a region facing the filling space to a regionfacing at least a part of the end surface of the yoke portion adjacentto the filling space.

In some examples, the auxiliary space may include a portion that facesthe end surface of the yoke portion and extends annularly along thecircumferential direction.

In some examples, the auxiliary space may include a first portion and asecond portion. The first portion may face the end surface of the yokeportion, be higher than the second portion, and extend along thecircumferential direction. The second portion may face the end surfaceof the yoke portion.

In some examples, the end surface of the stack may include a portionthat faces the auxiliary space and is roughed or depressed relative tothe other portion of the end surface of the stack.

In some examples, the corner of a depressed groove that forms theauxiliary space may have a rounded cross-sectional shape or may beinclined relative to a bottom wall surface and a side wall surface ofthe depressed groove.

In some examples, the width of the tooth portion may be reduced and/orthe inner diameter of the yoke portion may be increased toward both endsurfaces of the stack in the stacking direction.

An example method may further include a seventh step of applying a loadto the stack in the stacking direction through the pair of holdingplates such that the stacking height of the stack achieves apredetermined target stacking height, in a state in which the stack issandwiched between the pair of holding plates in the stacking direction,after the first step and before the fifth step.

In some examples, in the seventh step, a stopper member having a heightof the target stacking height may be disposed between the pair ofholding plates, and a load may be applied to the stack in the stackingdirection through the pair of holding plates such that the pair ofholding plates abuts on the stopper member, in a state in which the pairof holding plates sandwich the stack and the stopper member together inthe stacking direction.

In some examples, a thermal expansion coefficient of at least one of thepair of holding plates may be higher than a thermal expansioncoefficient of the stack.

In some examples, at least one of the pair of holding plates may includean escape portion through which each mold core member can pass, at aposition corresponding to each mold core member, in order that stackswith different stacking heights can be sandwiched in the pair of holdingplates.

In some examples, a thermal expansion coefficient of the mold coremember may be higher than a thermal expansion coefficient of the stack.

In some examples, the surface of the mold core member may be subjectedto mold-release treatment.

In some examples, the mold core member may include a channel throughwhich a refrigerant circulates.

In some examples, a thermal conductivity of at least a portion aroundthe channel in the mold core member may be higher than the thermalconductivity of the stack.

An example method may further include an eighth step of applying voltagebetween the mold core member and the stack to test the insulation of theresin portion, after the fifth step.

In some examples, in the fourth step, after a plurality of closingmembers configured to be movable in the crossing direction are disposedto be aligned along the circumferential direction and inside the yokeportion, each closing member is moved toward the tooth portion to applyan outward force in the crossing direction to the stack while the outerperipheral surface of each closing member abuts on the slot opening.

In some examples, at least the outer peripheral surface of each closingmember may be formed with an elastic material.

An example method may further include a ninth step of bringing aplurality of positioning members into abutment with the outer peripheralsurface of the stack to position the stack, after the first step andbefore the fourth step. In the fourth step, the stack may be sandwichedbetween each closing member and each positioning member in the crossingdirection.

In some examples, the positioning member may be positioned to face theclosing member in the crossing direction.

In some examples, in the fourth step, each positioning member may pushthe outer peripheral surface of the stack.

In some examples, in the second step, positioning jigs may be insertedinto at least two slots of a plurality of slots, and the mold coremembers may be inserted into the remaining slots. An example method mayfurther comprising steps of removing the positioning jigs from at leasttwo slots and inserting the mold core members therein, after the fifthstep; and charging melted resin into the filling space between at leasttwo slots and the mold core members to form resin portions, after thefifth step.

In some examples, the mold core member may be formed with a combinationof a plurality of separate pieces divided in at least one of theextending direction of the mold core member and the direction crossingthe extending direction.

In some examples, at least a part of the mold core member may have atapered shape with an outer peripheral size decreasing from one end sidetoward the other end side.

In some examples, a protective coating may be provided on the peripheralsurface of the mold core member.

In some examples, melted resin which is charged into the filling spacein the fifth step may contain anisotropic filler.

In some examples, in the second step, a transportation member having thestack placed thereon may be stacked onto a base member having aplurality of mold core members protruding upward, whereby the mold coremembers are inserted into the slots of the stack placed on thetransportation member.

In some examples, the base member may be provided with a plurality ofdiameter-increasing members configured to be movable in the crossingdirection. The second step may include: stacking the transportationmember onto the base member, whereby the mold core members are insertedinto the slots of the stack placed on the transportation member and theplurality of diameter-increasing members are disposed inside the yokeportion such that the plurality of diameter-increasing members arealigned in the circumferential direction; and moving eachdiameter-increasing member toward the tooth portion to bring the outerperipheral surface of the diameter-increasing member into abutment withthe inner peripheral surface of the stack, thereby applying an outwardforce in the crossing direction to the stack.

In some examples, in the fifth step, the base member on which thetransportation member is stacked in the second step may be transportedto a position different from the stacking position of the transportationmember onto the base member, and thereafter melted resin may be chargedinto the filling space to form the resin portion.

In some examples, a region of the transportation member, the regioncorresponding to the inside of the yoke portion of the stack, may have athrough hole.

In some examples, the inner wall surface of the slot in the stack may bea projecting and depressed surface on which projections and depressionsare arranged in the stacking direction of the stack.

In some examples, the mold core member may be configured to beexpandable and shrinkable in the slot.

In some examples, in the fifth step, charging melted resin into some ofa plurality of slots may be repeated to form the resin portions on theinner wall surfaces of all of the slots.

In some examples, in the fifth step, partially charging melted resininto the filling space may be sequentially repeated in the stackingdirection of the stack to form the resin portion in the entire fillingspace.

In some examples, in the second step, a resin injection channel may beprovided between the inner wall surface of the slot and the outerperipheral surface of the mold core member. The resin injection channelmay have a smaller channel resistance to melted resin than the fillingspace and extends in the stacking direction of the stack. In the thirdstep, melted resin may be charged into the filling space through theresin injection channel.

In some examples, the mold core members may be integrated with at leastone of the pair of holding plates sandwiching the stack in the stackingdirection and/or a plurality of diameter-increasing members disposedinside the stack.

In some examples, the resin portion may have a pair of notch groovesfacing each other in the slot and extending in the stacking direction ofthe stack.

In some examples, in the fifth step, melted resin may be charged intothe filling space while the tooth portion or the mold core member isheated such that the temperature of the tip end side of the toothportion is lower than the temperature of the base end side of the toothportion.

In some examples, in the fifth step, melted resin with a relatively lowflowability may be charged into the filling space on the tip end side ofthe tooth portion, and melted resin with a relatively high flowabilitymay be charged into the filling space on the base end side of the toothportion.

In some examples, in the fifth step, melted resin may be charged intothe filling space while the tooth portion or the mold core member isheated such that the temperature on the other end surface side is lowerthan the temperature on one end side surface of the tooth portion,melted resin being charged from the one end surface side.

In some examples, in the fifth step, melted resin with a relatively highflowability may be charged after melted resin with a relatively lowflowability is charged into the filling space.

In some examples, in the fifth step, melted resin may be charged intothe filling space through a resin channel provided in the mold coremember.

In some examples, in the fifth step, the mold core member may be cooledafter melted resin is charged into the filling space.

In some examples, in the fifth step, melted resin may be charged intothe filling space while the mold core member is heated.

An example stacked stator core may include a stack configured such thata plurality of core members are stacked, the stack including an annularyoke portion and a plurality of tooth portions extending from the yokeportion in a crossing direction crossing the yoke portion. The stackedstator core may further include a resin portion covering an inner wallsurface of a slot which is a space between adjacent two of the pluralityof tooth portions in a circumferential direction of the yoke portion.The resin portion may not close an open end portion of the slot on aslot opening side.

In some examples, the resin portion may not be provided on the innerwall surface of the open end portion of the slot.

In some examples, the inner wall surface of the open end portion mayinclude an inclined surface inclined relative to the extending directionof the tooth portion.

In some examples, the open end portion may protrude in thecircumferential direction relative to a base end portion of the toothportion on the yoke portion side.

In some examples, the resin portion may not protrude in thecircumferential direction relative to the open end portion.

In some examples, the resin portion may protrude outward relative to theend surface of the stack in the stacking direction of the stack.

In some examples, the resin portion may be formed on at least a part ofthe end surface of the tooth portion so as to extend from the inner wallsurface of the slot around the end surface of the tooth portion.

In some examples, the end surface of the tooth portion may include acovered region covered with the resin portion and a non-covered regionnot covered with the resin portion.

In some examples, the resin portion may be formed on at least a part ofthe end surface of the yoke portion so as to extend from the inner wallsurface of the slot around the end surface of the yoke portion.

In some examples, a portion of the resin portion on the end surface ofthe yoke portion may extend annularly along the circumferentialdirection.

In some examples, the resin portion may include a resin wall portionpositioned on the end surface of the yoke portion. The resin wallportion may be higher than the remaining portion of the resin portionand may extend in the circumferential direction.

In some examples, the resin portion may include a resin main portionprovided on the inner wall surface of the slot and a resin end portionof the resin portion provided on the end surface of the stack. The resinmain portion may be disposed to be shifted from the resin end portionsuch that the resin main portion protrudes toward the slot relative tothe resin end portion.

In some examples, the corner of the resin end portion may be chamferedor filleted.

In some examples, the end surface of the stack may include a coveredportion covered with the resin portion. The covered portion may beroughed or depressed relative to the other portion of the end surface ofthe stack.

In some examples, the width of the tooth portion may be reduced and/orthe inner diameter of the yoke portion may be increased toward both endsurfaces of the stack in the stacking direction of the stack.

In some examples, the resin portion may include anisotropic filler.

In some examples, the inner wall surface of the slot in the stack may bea projecting and depressed surface on which projections and depressionsare arranged in the stacking direction of the stack.

In some examples, the resin portion may have a pair of notch groovesfacing each other in the slot and extending in the stacking direction ofthe stack.

An example stacked stator core may include a stack configured such thata plurality of core members are stacked, the stack including an annularyoke portion and a plurality of tooth portions extending from the yokeportion in a crossing direction crossing the yoke portion. The stackedstator core may further include a resin portion covering an inner wallsurface of a slot which is a space between adjacent two of the pluralityof tooth portions in a circumferential direction of the yoke portion.The resin portion may close a slot opening of the slot, and include aresin main portion disposed on an inner wall surface of the slot and aresin end portion disposed on an end surface of the tooth portion and anend surface of the yoke portion. The resin main portion may be disposedto be shifted from the resin end portion such that the resin mainportion protrudes toward the slot relative to the resin end portion.

In some examples, the resin portion may protrude outward relative to theend surface of the stack in the stacking direction of the stack.

In some examples, the resin portion may be formed on at least a part ofthe end surface of the tooth portion so as to extend from the inner wallsurface of the slot around the end surface of the tooth portion.

In some examples, the end surface of the tooth portion may include acovered region covered with the resin portion and a non-covered regionnot covered with the resin portion.

In some examples, the resin portion may be formed on at least a part ofthe end surface of the yoke portion so as to extend from the inner wallsurface of the slot around the end surface of the yoke portion.

In some examples, a portion of the resin portion on the end surface ofthe yoke portion may extend annularly along the circumferentialdirection.

In some examples, the resin portion may include a resin wall portionpositioned on the end surface of the yoke portion. The resin wallportion may be higher than the remaining portion of the resin portionand may extend in the circumferential direction.

In some examples, the resin portion may include a resin main portionprovided on the inner wall surface of the slot and a resin end portionof the resin portion provided on the end surface of the stack. The resinmain portion may be disposed to be shifted from the resin end portionsuch that the resin main portion protrudes toward the slot relative tothe resin end portion.

In some examples, the corner of the resin end portion may be chamferedor filleted.

In some examples, the end surface of the stack may include a coveredportion covered with the resin portion. The covered portion may beroughed or depressed relative to the other portion of the end surface ofthe stack.

In some examples, the width of the tooth portion may be reduced and/orthe inner diameter of the yoke portion may be increased toward both endsurfaces of the stack in the stacking direction of the stack.

In some examples, the resin portion may include anisotropic filler.

In some examples, the inner wall surface of the slot in the stack may bea projecting and depressed surface on which projections and depressionsare arranged in the stacking direction of the stack.

In some examples, the resin portion may have a pair of notch groovesfacing each other in the slot and extending in the stacking direction ofthe stack.

We claim all modifications and variations coining within the spirit andscope of the subject matter claimed herein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A stacked stator core comprising: a stackconfigured such that a plurality of core members are stacked, the stackcomprising: an annular yoke portion; a plurality of tooth portionsextending substantially radially from the yoke portion; and a pluralityof slots, each being a space formed between two of the plurality oftooth portions adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction ofthe yoke portion; and a resin portion, wherein the resin portionincludes: a resin main portion covering an inner wall surface of a slotof the plurality of slots; and a resin end portion disposed on an endsurface of the stack, wherein the resin end portion protrudes outwardrelative to the end surface of the stack in a height direction of thestack, wherein the resin end portion is formed on at least a part of anend surface of one tooth portion forming the slot so as to extend fromthe inner wall surface of the slot and around the end surface of thetooth portion, wherein the resin end portion includes a corner thatextends from the resin main portion, wherein the corner of the resin endportion forms an inclined surface including a planar surface or a curvedsurface, and wherein the resin portion extends longitudinally along thetooth portion so that the inclined surface extends substantially in aradial direction of the annular yoke portion.
 2. The stacked stator coreaccording to claim 1, wherein the resin end portion is disposed on theend surface of the tooth portion and an end surface of the yoke portion,and wherein the resin main portion is disposed so as to be offset withrespect to the resin end portion such that the resin main portionprotrudes toward the slot relative to the resin end portion.
 3. Thestacked stator core according to claim 1, wherein the corner of theresin end portion is chamfered.
 4. The stacked stator core according toclaim 1, wherein the corner of the resin end portion is beveled.
 5. Thestacked stator core according to claim 1, wherein the corner of theresin end portion is filleted.
 6. The stacked stator core according toclaim 1, wherein the corner of the resin end portion is rounded.
 7. Astacked stator core comprising: a stack including a plurality of coremembers that are stacked in an axial direction, the stack comprising: anannular yoke portion extending in the axial direction; and a pluralityof tooth portions extending substantially radially from the yoke portionto form slots between adjacent pairs of the tooth portions; and a resinportion at least partially covering one tooth portion among theplurality of tooth portions, wherein the resin portion includes: a resinmain portion extending in the axial direction of the stack along aninner wall of one slot formed by the tooth portion; and a resin endportion covering an edge of the tooth portion formed by an end surfaceof the stack, wherein the resin end portion forms a linear surfaceextending along the end surface of the stack, and an inclined surfaceextending between the linear surface and the resin main portion, whereinthe resin portion extends longitudinally along the tooth portion so thatthe inclined surface extends substantially in a radial direction of thestack along the edge of the tooth portion.
 8. The stacked stator coreaccording to claim 7, wherein the linear surface extends substantiallyparallel to the end surface, and wherein the inclined surface of theresin end portion is a planar surface that extends along a plane that isangled relative to both the linear surface and the axial direction. 9.The stacked stator core according to claim 7, wherein the inclinedsurface of the resin end portion forms a curved surface extending fromthe linear surface of the resin end portion toward the resin mainportion.
 10. The stacked stator core according to claim 7, wherein theend surface of the stack covered by the resin end portion forms an endsurface of the tooth portion, and wherein the resin end portion furthercovers a region of the end surface forming the yoke portion between thetooth portion and an adjacent tooth portion among the plurality of toothportions.
 11. The stacked stator core according to claim 7, wherein theresin main portion forms a step extending from the inclined surfacetoward the slot, so that the resin end portion is recessed from the slotrelative to the resin main portion.
 12. The stacked stator coreaccording to claim 7, wherein the resin end portion is chamfered to formthe inclined surface.
 13. The stacked stator core according to claim 7,wherein the resin end portion is beveled to form the inclined surface.14. The stacked stator core according to claim 7, wherein the resin endportion is filleted to form the inclined surface.
 15. The stacked statorcore according to claim 7, wherein the inclined surface of the resin endportion is rounded to form the inclined surface.
 16. The stacked statorcore according to claim 7, wherein the end surface extends from the edgeof the tooth portion at a right angle from the inner wall of the slot,and wherein the resin portion has a varying thickness over the edge ofthe tooth portion to form the inclined surface.